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“‘isn’t it lovely to look down on the historic 

CITY ? ’ ” 


Tar 


A JOURNEY 
OF JOT 


BY 

AMY E. BLANCHARD 

n 

Author of ''Two Girls f " Three Pretty Maids f "A Girl of '76 f 
"Janefs College Career," etc. 


Illustrated by 

L. J. BRIDGMAN 



BOSTON 

DANA ESTES & COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 





r f'i 

V. 



LltTRARY of OCNv.V.&Ss' 
fwo Copies rtBCo'iv. 

MAY 19 1908 

;o>>yf)«i*» c-nuy 
JL/iat'4. .\ACi rto. 



Copyright^ jgo8 

By Dana Estes & Company 


All rights reserved 



COLONIAL PRESS 

Electrotyped and Printed by C, H . Simonds &* Co, 
Boston, U.S.A, 


To my niecCj May^ whose dear companionship 
added many joys to the days in which we journeyed 
together^ I dedicate this story. 


A. E. B. 


( 


* 


'ill 





f 


j 


Contents 


CHAPTER 

I. 

Our Way across the Sea 





PAGE 

II 

II. 

Under the Walls of Paradise 




20 

III. 

In Honor of a Queen . 





39 

IV. 

The Briton 





54 

V. 

Romances .... 





68 

VI. 

Roses 





82 

VII. 

“ In a Gondola ” 





96 

VIII. 

From Sea to Mountain . 





1 10 

IX. 

Bells 





124 

X. 

“ Chiefless Castles ” 





141 

XI. 

Three Hundred Windmills 





157 

XII. 

A Tempest in an Ink-bottle 




173 

XIII. 

He Might Have Been a Russian 




187 

XIV. 

Whither? Together 





203 

XV. 

A Medi/EVAl Town . 





220 

XVI. 

A Good Crossing 





234 

XVII. 

Confessions 





248 

XVIII. 

St. Giles’s Fair 





263 

XIX. 

Skirling Pipes . 





278 

XX. 

The Other Gentleman . 





294 



I * » 

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List of Illu strations 


PAGE 

“ ‘ Isn’t it lovely to look down on the historic 

CITY ? ’ ” {See page gg) .... Frontispiece 

“View from the monastery” 

“ The gondola drifted out upon the silent 

WATERS ” . . . 

“ ‘ Here, here,’ called Miss Cavendish, ‘ you are 
MISSING all the BEAUTIFUL SCENERY ’” 

“‘It is a very important city, historically, com- 


mercially AND ARTISTICALLY 




“ ‘ There is a little old church next to Crosby 
Hall . . . and we shall want to see that ’ ” . 
“ ‘ They were rewarded by sight of a company 


j) 


58.^ 

106 ,r 

150“ 

174 

239 


. 275 V 


UNDER INSPECTION 



A Journey of Joy 


CHAPTER I 

OUR WAY ACROSS THE SEA 

It was the close of a gusty day in late November 
when two persons sat watching the early dusk close 
down upon the outside world. A long line of light 
still lingered behind the purple hills upon which 
there stood out a few houses silhouetted against the 
primrose yellow of the sky. Within the nearer con- 
fines of the lawn the leafless trees looked dim and 
shadowy. The whirl of eddying leaves against the 
wall sounded ghostly, and the rattling of the vines 
against the side of the house suggested wintriness. 

And in Italy, murmured the elder of the two 
women, it will be all sunshine and light.’’ 

“Italy?” There was a question in her com- 
panion’s voice. 

“ Yes, I am going there.” 

“ Alone? You surely are not going alone.” 

“ No, Sidney is going with me.” 

11 


12 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ Sidney? Oh, I am jealous,’^ the girl responded 
petulantly. As if it were not enough that Sidney 
has a grandfather with lashings of money, a beautiful 
home, a devoted brother, an indulgent mother, while 
I am a poverty-stricken wretch whose blessed little 
mother must turn and twist and contrive to make 
both ends meet; — as if all this were not enough 
but you, my own godmother, who is mine by birth- 
right, must be spirited away from me for a mess of 
pottage, — for pottage read spaghetti ; that’s what 
they live on in Italy, I believe, — and I must sit 
and smile during the process of spiriting.” 

‘‘ But Gabriella, dear, Sidney is also my god- 
daughter.” 

Yes, worse luck; I always did hate her for it.” 

Gabriella ! you do no such thing. You are 
devoted to Sidney.” 

I might be if she were not so aggressively well 
off.” 

She is the least aggressive person I know. You 
rarely find a more simple-hearted girl.” 

‘‘ Clothe her in hand-me-downs, and she might 
be, but exaggerated wealth stands out in her tailor- 
made gowns and her hats.” 

That is where you err ; the tailor-made gowns 
do not add one iota to her figure, and the hats are 
never becoming.” 

Gabriella did not heed the interruption. “ And 
in her furs and feathers and jewelry — ” 


OUR WAY ACROSS THE SEA 13 


“ Which she never wears obtrusively. She will 
display no jewels on our travels, I can assure you. 
Don’t be cantankerous, Gabriella.” 

‘‘ Oh, I must be. I always have had a grudge 
against Sidney since the day we were christened at 
the same font and she behaved so beautifully while 
I yelled like sin. Even then I must have had a fore- 
knowledge of what our relative positions in life 
would be.” 

“ You are the silliest child, Gabriella.” 

But in spite of that fact you love me, don’t you. 
Gem?” 

Of course I do, and that is why I am going to 
take you abroad with me.” 

Dearest Gem, is this a make-believe such as 
you are so fond of getting up at this charmed hour, 
or have you suddenly fallen heir to a fortune, or 
what? Please explain yourself. When you speak 
in that assured manner of taking me to Europe I 
feel myself getting weak in the knees.” 

Miss Cavendish laughed. “ Will you positively 
go with me, Gabriella? ” 

“Will a duck swim? Oh, Gem of purest ray 
serene, do tell me what you are driving at. Speak 
seriously as one who would ^not trifle with sacred 
things. Please don’t be frivolous where such a sub- 
ject is concerned. Sidney as Sidney is bad enough, 
but Sidney and you and Europe; I cannot endure 
the combination.” 


14 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


Miss Cavendish leaned back in her chair and fixed 
her eyes upon the distant hills, now an irregular line 
against the fast-fading primrose yellow. You 
know, Gabriella,’^ she began, I have been thinking 
for a long time of going to Europe, but I didn’t want 
to go alone and I didn’t want to go with a casual 
companion. A dozen friends and acquaintances 
have proposed my joining some special party, but, 
my dear, there is no undertaking in life, except 
marriage, which involves such nicety of choice as 
the selection of a travelling companion. One is too 
fussy, another too delicate, a third interested in 
exactly the opposite things to those which interest 
you, still another cannot endure pensions but insists 
upon hotels, or perhaps is nothing of a pedestrian 
but must take a carriage everywhere, and so on. I 
never realized how many objections could arise till 
I gave careful consideration to the merits and de- 
merits of my various acquaintances. So the more I 
thought the matter over the more I felt inclined to 
venture alone with Sidney, if she would go, and you, 
if you could be persuaded to leave your native land.” 

Persuaded ! ” ejaculated Gabriella under her 
breath. 

‘‘ So then,” Miss Cavendish continued, although 
I know but little French, less German and no Italian, 
I am not afraid to personally conduct our small 
party. I believe we could travel more cheaply than 
if we were to join a company of regulation tourists ; 


OUR WAY ACROSS THE SEA 15 


certainly we could be more independent, and the 
opportunity for adventure would be unlimited. 
When I broached my plan to Sidney, — you know 
I spent Thanksgiving with the Shaws, — she was 
most enthusiastic, and though I made certain stipu- 
lations, she agreed to everything and is in a state of 
great excitement over the prospect. Since her mother 
has never felt that there was a time that she could 
leave old Mr. Shaw, Sidney has yet to take her first 
trip abroad. Mrs. Shaw declares she would not 
willingly trust her with anyone but me, and Sidney 
has agreed to travel in my way, that is in a very 
economical manner which involves no superfluous 
expenditures, unless they be of a purely personal 
nature. So, you see, my dear, we shall all be on 
exactly the same footing.’’ 

‘‘ Rather nice of Sid to agree to that, considering 
what she has to spend. But I don’t yet see my place 
in this scheme of things.” 

‘‘ You will see,” Miss Cavendish went on. I 
have been looking up travelling rates and pensions 
and Baedekers, so, with this, that and the other, I 
know pretty well what can be done, and I believe a 
thousand dollars will cover our expenses for six 
months and give us a very good time.” 

“ A thousand dollars apiece, you mean ? ” 

No, a thousand dollars for the two of us. It 
will be cheaper for two to travel together than for one, 
and cheaper still for three. I don’t suppose that 


16 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


amount will buy us many Paris gowns or much 
Brussels lace, but I am pretty sure it will cover all 
but the luxuries. Now, I have the thousand dollars 
which I have set aside for this trip, and I shall be 
much happier if I can take both my goddaughters 
with me. Will you go? ” 

But dearest, it seems perfectly sinful to spend all 
that money on me. Are you sure you ought to do it ? ” 
I’m very sure that I’d rather stay over there 
six months with you and Sidney than to go by myself, 
and I am also sure that I would much prefer your 
society to that of a party of strangers whose doxies 
might not be my doxies. When I mentioned your go- 
ing to Sidney she was delighted. She spoke much 
more sweetly of you than you of her, though she does 
envy you your ready wit, your looks and your 
general adaptability.” 

I’ll sell them all for her ducats.” 

‘‘ Because you know you can’t.” 

‘‘ Sidney is a dear; I always loved her.” 

A moment ago you always hated her.” 

That was because I saw everything being poured 
into her lap. Now that I am to share her good times 
I love her. I love everybody. I love everything 
to the meanest worm that crawls. I never knew 
before what a broadly charitable spirit I possessed. 
It is a beautiful world and I well know that the 
loveliest spot in the universe is Italy. When do you 
think of sailing. Gem, dear? ” 


OUR WAY ACROSS THE SEA 17 


‘‘ About the middle of March.” 

“ And what shall I need? ” 

“ I intend to take only such clothing as shall be 
necessary for three months travel through Italy and 
Switzerland. This can all be stowed away in a small 
hand trunk which will not have to be registered as 
we can carry it from place to place without having 
it put in the baggage car, or the luggage van, as they 
will call it. It can be toted across platforms by a 
porter who will put it in the rack over our heads and 
there it will be in plain sight all the way. One 
steamer trunk will do for the two of us; it can be 
stored, and be sent to us when we need it for our 
return trip. When we get to Paris, if fripperies so 
possess our souls that we need room for them, we 
can easily buy a light wicker trunk. I must confess 
to indulging in an anticipation of doing that very 
thing.” 

How delightful it all sounds,” said Gabriella, 
hugging her knees. “ Are you sure it is not a make- 
believe; one of those lovely twilight dreams you 
always have been so fond of summoning for my 
entertainment, especially when I used to call you 
Auntie Belle, and before I discovered that you were 
a true gem. What a happy discovery it was when 
I grew so big that to call a woman fifteen years my 
senior, godmother seemed ridiculous, and I cut it 
down to G. M., which to my delight one day resolved 
itself into Gem. It is the nicest name in the world 


18 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


and just suits you, for if ever there were a gem it is 
you, dearest Isabella Cavendish, Auntie Belle, god- 
mother, Gem. What a dear you have been to me ever 
since I got red in the face and doubled up my fists 
as if to fight the world, the flesh and the devil bodily, 
while I howled lustily in the arms of dear little Belle 
Cavendish, who had made my christening robe and 
who held me tight in spite of my squirmings and 
battlings with my mottled pink fists. Oh, I can see 
it all. I can see us later, too, when I was a witch of 
three, you a dainty young lady of eighteen, who used 
to take me to see good little Sidney Shaw. I can 
remember climbing all over you and weeping on your 
silken shoulder because Sidney would not let me 
wash her face. I can remember the hoodlum at 
eight, too, when I came to your house and slid down 
the haircloth cushions of the sofa till cushions and I 
came to the floor together and I knocked out a tooth 
which for days I had refused to have drawn though 
it fairly waggled with looseness. I can remember 
how dear you were to me that day; in fact there 
are days all along when you have pulled me out of 
difficulties and have stablished my goings, and now 
comes the crowning act of all. If I tried to thank you 
in the right way I couldn’t do it. All my thanks are 
inside, but they choke me when I try to say them.” 

“ Don’t try to say them, then. Suppose we light 
up and look over that pile of folders and plans on my 
desk. I purpose sailing by way of the Mediterranean 


OUR WAY ACROSS THE SEA 19 


directly to Naples. It will not be so cold nor so rough 
as the northern route.” 

“ Spring in Italy ! Oh, goddess mother, you are 
indeed a fairy godmother.” 

Miss Cavendish laughed. “ What a contradiction 
of terms. If you lose your wits at this early stage of 
the proceedings, what will you do when we are really 
landed at Naples? ” 

‘‘ Oh, it sounds so delicious. I am actually cold 
and shivery. Just wait a minute till I get my breath 
before we tackle that dear delightful Baedeker. How 
familiar it will be before we are through with it. Ah, 
I am glad I have not outlived my enthusiasms. 
Usually it is so much easier to dream than to do, but 
now the doing will exceed the joy of the dreaming.” 


CHAPTER II 


UNDER THE WALLS OF PARADISE 

By the first of April Gabriella had viewed from 
the steamer’s deck her first walled town, that once 
famous city named for the Berber sheikh, Tarif 
Ibn Malek. The picturesque group of houses clus- 
tered in the curve of the strait, so situated as to com- 
mand the entrance to the Mediterranean, was doubt- 
less a piratical stronghold which made the most of its 
position in those old days and allowed few vessels 
to pass in free. This forerunner of the modern bug- 
bear, customs, no doubt was quite as much, if not 
more, dreaded. It has its own history, has Tarifa. 
It has seen the fierce struggle between Christianity 
and Mohammedanism, and was witness in later 
battles to England’s effort to snatch Spain from the 
clutches of Napoleon. 

“ It would be a place well worth visiting,” said 
Miss Cavendish as Tarifa vanished from view and 
the dim outline of Africa’s shores seemed to melt 
into that of the Spanish coast. “ I shall go there 
some day,” she added half to herself. 

Then Gibraltar loomed up against so spectacular 
a sunset sky that, as Gabriella said, it seemed almost 
20 


‘‘UNDER WALLS OF PARADISE’’ 21 


too stagey. “ Only Nature herself would dare to use 
such splashes of color, such indescribable reds and 
pinks and yellows.” At last the glory faded into 
grey and the fleecy clouds huddled down on the 
mountain tops, like a flock of sheep going to rest for 
the night. 

“ You’ve been wanting a sensation,” said Miss 
Cavendish, “ and I am sure nothing could be more 
thrilling than our first sight of Gibraltar ; that mighty 
rock with that gorgeous sunset behind it. I, for one, 
shall not forget it while I live.” 

“ Nor I,” Gabriella hastened to say, “ but I am 
truly glad that you did not say that frowning rock ; 
it would have spoiled my sensations.” 

“To think that we are in the Mediterranean and 
that yonder is Spain,” remarked Sidney; “ it is very 
exciting.” 

“ Still,” returned Gabriella, “ you can’t say it has 
been an eventful trip. This is our first excitement 
and we have been ten days out ; not an iceberg, not 
an accident of any kind, not even a storm.” 

“ For vrhich Heaven be thanked,” ejaculated Miss 
Cavendish fervently. 

If Gabriella wanted excitement she had it before 
the next morning, for at an early hour the passengers 
were roused by a sudden jar, a sound of scraping 
along the side of the steamer, then there was the 
terrifying silence, which follows when the familiar 
throbbing of the engines ceases to be felt. Next 


22 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


there was a sound of running footsteps overhead, 
of dragging ropes and clanging bells. Gabriella 
made a tumultuous descent from her berth and 
hurried to the porthole. ‘‘What is it? What is 
the matter? ’’ cried Miss Cavendish. “ I must call 
Sidney.” She hurried into her dressing-govm and 
rushed to the adjoining stateroom which Sidney 
occupied. She found the girl gazing out of the port- 
hole, with apparently no apprehensive fears. 

“ Isn’t it beautiful? ” she said in response to Miss 
Cavendish’s touch upon her arm. “Just look out. 
Gem, and see how perfectly exquisite it is.” 

“ Dear me, I thought I should find you scared to 
death,” said Miss Cavendish. “ Is there really 
nothing wrong, Sidney? ” 

“ No, I can’t discover that there is. Just see 
that sky and that little ship and all.” 

Miss Cavendish looked out upon a scene of wonder- 
ful beauty. Overhead where the sky was deeply blue, 
a waning moon swam like a galley with prow high 
in air. In the east there was a faint flush of dawn 
rosily pink toward the horizon, while midway toward 
the zenith a great silver star cast its beams upon the 
deep blue waters below. At a little distance from 
the steamer lay a white sailing vessel like a wounded 
bird. From the fact that a small boat was hastily 
making its way toward it, the passengers gathered 
that something had happened to the sailing vessel 
and a closer examination showed that the bow- 


UNDER WALLS OF PARADISE’’ 23 


sprit was gone and a gaping hole was visible. Miss 
Cavendish returned to Gabriella. There is nothing 
very much the matter,” the latter assured her. “ I 
think we must have run down that poor little schooner. 
She seems quite helpless. Look, Gem, at the rows 
of heads poking out of the port-holes for all the world 
like turtles from their shells. I’ve been conversing 
with our next-door neighbor, and he told me what 
was the matter. It was great fun to watch them 
lower the boat. The captain and second officer went 
off in it to the little vessel. I hope no one was hurt.” 

Later developments proved that no one was hurt, 
but that the vessel was disabled and must be towed 
back to port. “You wanted excitement and you had 
it,” said Sidney to Gabriella, “ and now we shall 
be a whole day late in getting into port, though I 
must say I don’t care much. I wouldn’t have missed 
that exquisite dawn for anything, besides all day 
we shall have those beautiful snow-capped moun- 
tains to look at.” 

“ To say nothing of the thrill we received when we 
thought something serious had happened. I shall 
never forget my sensation when the engines stopped ; 
it seemed the deadliest silence I ever experienced. 
I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” 

“You would be singing another tune,” said Miss 
Cavendish, “ if you were adrift in a life-boat on this 
fickle Mediterranean.” 

“But so long as I am not, I can rejoice at the 


24 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


adventure/’ returned Gabriella, ‘‘ for now we shall 
see Malaga, and I am dying to step on Spanish soil. 
Do you suppose they will allow us to land? ” 
However, though Malaga was the nearest port, 
the passengers did not see it that day, for by noon 
the schooner had been transferred to the care of a 
passing craft, and the travellers were again headed 
for Naples. They were made aware of their approach 
very early one morning when one of the steerage 
passengers rent the quiet of daybreak by a thrilling 
cry of Italia ! ” All his heart was in his voice. He 
had been watching all night. Amid sunshine and 
flowers they landed, and were whirled to their con- 
vent pension through Naples’ picturesque streets. 

Naples may have few great buildings to display,” 
said Miss Cavendish, looking around critically, 
and oh, what a dirty place ! but such color, such 
motifs for pictures may well drive an artist wild. 
One can forgive her filth that she covers up with 
flowers, and who would ask for splendid architecture 
where there are streets like this? ” She waved her 
hand toward a thoroughfare which was a series of 
steps bordered on each side by stalls crowded with 
masses of flowers. Overhead, on lines stretched 
across, dangled garments of many hues, scarlet 
cloths hung from the window-sills; the windows 
themselves were often screened by yellow or red 
awnings ; balconies displayed pots or growing plants 
and trailing vines; up and down the street groups 


“UNDER WALLS OF PARADISE’^ 25 


of persons or single individuals passed and repassed 
in constant procession; all was color, glow, sun- 
shine; a picture framed between the soft greyish 
white walls of the tall houses which cast deep shad- 
ows only to make the sunlight seem brighter. 

“ I was afraid the approach to Naples would be 
the most satisfying picture she could present to us,’’ 
said Miss Cavendish, “ but I am not disappointed 
with this inland scene.” 

“ I suppose it displays an appalling amount of 
inexperience and crass ignorance to be so surprised 
and pleased,” said Sidney, “ but when it is one’s 
first trip abroad one has a right to be enthusiastic, 
don’t you think? I have no doubt some of our 
friends would find this anything but stimulating, 
^ so hackneyed ’ they would say, ‘ Why not find some- 
thing more unfamiliar to rave over? ’ ” 

“ Oh, but I was under the impression that we 
came because it was new to us, and I, for one, do not 
intend to act like a disillusioned globe-trotter who 
has drunk her travelling-glass to the dregs. This is 
to be a journey of joy to us who have not outgrown 
our enthusiasms, and anything that contributes in 
the least to our pleasure is to be welcomed, be it old 
or new, well known or discovered on the instant. 
I believe in seeing the in-the-way places first, and 
the out-of-the-way ones another time.” Gabriella 
spoke decidedly. 

“ That is the true spirit, Gabriella,” Miss Caven- 


26 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


dish told her. “ We are to be a law unto ourselves, 
and we shall have the privilege of enjoying whatso- 
ever pleases us and not what custom and habit 
declare the tourist should enjoy/’ 

“ Then perceive me enjoying,” returned Gabriella. 
‘‘For once I am devoutly thankful that I am not 
lapped in luxury, else I might be a peevish com- 
plainer because I could not get the best room in 
the newest hotel or because the service wasn’t perfect 
or some such fool thing as that. During this trip 
I intend that my halo shall always fit.” 

“ The guide-books give mention to a couple of 
dozen churches,” said Sidney, who had been studying 
her Baedeker with some diligence. “ Which are we 
to see. Gem? Not all, I suppose.” 

“ No, we shall not have time. The cathedral, 
Santa Chiara, San Domenico Maggiore, and San 
Lorenzo are all that I think we shall want to see ; 
I am told they are the best. We shall go to the 
National Museum, of course.” 

“ And to the Aquarium, of course.” 

“ Then we must not forget the fine views around 
Naples.” 

“ That from the Capo di Posilipo I am bound we 
shall not omit,” said Miss Cavendish, “ and I do 
want to go as far as Pozzuoli ; in that direction is a 
store of antiquities, and one is on classic ground.” 

This was all accomplished within the next three 
days and then Miss Cavendish announced that she 


'‘UNDER WALLS OF PARADISE 27 


thought they were ready to leave Naples. " But I 
love it. I don’t want to leave it,” complained Gabri- 
ella. 

" Not even to see the Blue Grotto, Sorrento and 
Pompeii ? ” asked Miss Cavendish, smiling. 

" I am nearly consumed with excitement now,” 
declared Gabriella, " but when you mention those 
places I feel myself in such a state of ebullition that 
I shall evaporate into steam if I don’t look out. I 
have this morning beheld a goat walk upstairs to be 
milked, and have seen the descent made in the most 
matter-of-fact way, as if the dear, funny little creature 
reasoned it all out. No doubt it knows its customers 
as well as if it were a human. I have also viewed a 
woman arranging her hair, and performing such 
scanty ablutions as she deemed necessary; all this 
right on the street in the eyes of all who chose to be- 
hold. Then I saw scores of artisans at work at 
their various trades, and nearly the whole family life 
going on in the face of the public ; cooking, washing, 
sewing, spanking babies, feeding them, dressing them, 
though the last didn’t need to delay long. Truly the 
people of Naples live in the streets. One thing makes 
me indignant, and that is the way the poor little 
donkeys are treated. They are such patient, meek- 
looking little creatures and have such heavy burdens 
to bear; they are beaten unmercifully, too; yet, I 
am told they are taken every year to be blessed by 
the priests. I think the greatest blessing that could 


28 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


be bestowed upon them would be a fund given to the 
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 
and a law that would establish a legal weight for 
them to carry and that would cause the government 
to beat their beaters.^’ 

Perhaps, now that Gabriella has had her say,” 
remarked Sidney, she will allow Gem to declare 
^ our plans for the next move.” 

I thought we would best go to Capri and Sorrento 
next,” Miss Cavendish hastened to say. I learn 
that if you go to the quay you can get tickets at a 
reduced rate, for there is sharp competition and one 
may sometimes get a ticket as low as two francs for 
the round trip to Sorrento and Capri. One must 
be sure not to accept tickets for the larger boats, for 
it is on the smaller one that we find the cheap rates. 
We shall go to Capri and Sorrento the same day, 
stay over night at Sorrento, drive to Amalfi, remain 
there over night, drive to Salerno, and take the train 
from there to Paestum. Then, if we choose, we can 
go on from there to Pompeii or we can come back to 
Naples and take Pompeii as a separate trip.” 

Might as well do it all at once,” advised Gabri- 
ella. ‘‘ Let us pack up and sally forth. I am wild to 
get out again into these heavenly streets and see all 
I can of these angelically dirty people ; they are so 
dear and picturesque, and seem so happy living out- 
of-doors, pursuing their little trades right on the 
sidewalk in such a sociable way. If I were an artist 


UNDER WALLS OF PARADISE” 29 


I should drop down here in Naples and stay. I 
might wander as far as Capri or Sorrento, but I 
should never want to go any further.” 

I suppose we ought not to take up our precious 
time in going to the Aquarium again,” remarked 
Sidney, but I should like to see that dreadful 
octopus again. He is positively fascinating. While 
Gabriella likes the streets, I like the Aquarium; 
it is as mysterious as an under-world with that half 
light and that marvellous collection of ‘ things forked 
and horny and soft ’ that ‘ lean out from the hollow 
sphere of the sea.’ It most be a wonderfully attract- 
ive place to the naturalist.” 

There, I can’t pass that old blind man again,” 
Gabriella suddenly said. Every time we go by 
this corner I see him out of the tail of my eye, and 
now he is getting into my system. I’ll just have to 
go back and buy a box of his matches. We’ll prob- 
ably need them in the next few days. You needn’t 
wait for me ; I’ll follow on.” 

“ We might stop and get some oranges,” suggested 
Sidney to Miss Cavendish. “ I saw a beautiful 
branch in one of these little shops just ahead.” 
She made her purchase, which she triumphantly 
displayed to Gabriella when she overtook them. 

Seven, all on one branch and only seven 
soldi, aren’t they fine? Did you get your 
matches? ” 

For answer Gabriella held out an open box in her 


30 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


hand. “ I gave him ten centesimi,” she told them, 
‘‘ and look.” The box was empty. 

‘‘ The old fraud ! I’d take them right back and 
demand a full box,” said Sidney indignantly. 

‘‘ I don’t believe there is a thing in any of them,” 
declared Gabriella, “ and if there were, how could 
I make the exchange without standing there in the 
view of the populace and opening every one ? What 
should I say? I have no words for the occasion, I 
am sure. Grazie doesn’t seem appropiate, neither 
does buon giorno or quanto appear to cover the need, 
and those are about all the words I know. Even 
if I took the dictionary along with me I am sure 
it would not supply a conversation upon just this 
particular subject. No, the incident is so funny and 
so beggarly Italian that I shall keep my little box 
as a souvenir and am perfectly willing to have paid 
ten centesimi for the experience. I am wondering 
now if Gem will have any difficulty with her tickets. 
Suppose they should be for some other point or 
should be last year’s issue and of no use whatever.” 

‘‘ It would be terrible,” said Miss Cavendish, 
aghast. ‘‘ Still, I don’t think they would dare to do 
a thing like that in cold blood, and I surely can read 
the name of our destination. I know enough for 
that, Gabriella.” 

I hope so,” said Gabriella, a trifle doubtfully, 
and looking at her match-box. 

But Miss Cavendish had not the slightest difficulty 


‘‘UNDER WALLS OF PARADISE” 31 


in selecting the man with the cheapest tickets, and in 
assuring herself that they were not bogus, and there- 
fore they were presently aboard the little steamer 
bound for Capri. “ Now this is quite as comfortable 
as that big pretentious steamer which laughs us to 
scorn,” declared Sidney. “ Moreover I am discover- 
ing that where cheapness is an object you often find 
there are benefits thrown in. Here, for example, 
one sees the people and not the tourists. Deliver 
me from those hordes of tourists that throng the 
churches and trample on your heels in the galleries. 
I am afraid the Blue Grotto will be full of them to- 
day; the water is so perfectly smooth and lovely.” 

“ I am glad we thought to bring chocolate and 
biscuits and things,” remarked Gabriella, “ for if 
the horde, as Sidney calls it, should happen to want 
all the food that Capri can furnish, we shall not want. 
Where are your oranges, Sidney? ” 

Sidney turned around in dismay. “ Why — 
Oh dear, I must have left them in that shop when we 
stopped to get the chocolate. Isn^t it a pity? ” 

“ Oh, well, you can get some more at Capri,” 
Gabriella comforted her by saying. “You had the 
pleasure of buying them, and that was the main thing. 
Just think of it, our bodies, as well as our souls, 
to-day are ‘ far away, sailing the Vesuvian bay.’ I 
don’t wonder that Buchanan Read wrote ‘ Drifting ’ 
if he loved this place as well as I do, for I could write 
a poem myself if I stayed here long enough.” 


32 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ But IVe heard that he had never been to Italy 
when he wrote that,” said Sidney. 

Really? It seems incredible, doesn’t it? Then 
that is where he and I differ: he could write 
a poem about what he had not seen, and I could 
write one only of what I had seen many, many times. 

“ * Here Ischia smiles o’er liquid miles, 

And yonder, bluest of the isles, 

Calm Capri waits — ’ ” 

‘‘ There, there, Gabriella,” interrupted Miss 
Cavendish, “ we all know it by heart and have 
been repeating it at intervals for the last three days. 
Spare us when the reality is before us.” 

‘‘That is the very reason,” returned Gabriella; 
“ when one is actually ‘ under the walls of Paradise ’ 
there is no use in trying to express one’s self in any- 
thing but poetry.” 

“ In that case,” replied Miss Cavendish sarcas- 
tically, “ one of us at least would have to remain 
silent most of the time.” 

“ Cruel Gem,” murmured Gabriella. 

“ There are the little boats coming out to meet us,” 
cried Sidney. “ We must be near the grotto. I 
wish I could see the opening. Do you suppose that 
tiny little hole in the cliffs can be it? ” 

“ It would probably appear no larger from this 
distance,” Miss Cavendish answered. 

“ I’m getting scared. I don’t believe I want to go.” 


‘‘UNDER WALLS OF PARADISE’^ 33 


“ Silly girl, why not? asked Gabriella. 

“ Because I’ve heard tales of ladies being robbed 
by the boatmen, and of getting in there and not being 
able to get out again for hours. I am sure I should 
not like to remain in such a blue place all night.” 

“ You need have no fears to-day,” Miss Cavendish 
assured hei;. “ In the first place there will be dozens 
of boats going, to judge by the crowds on the other 
steamboats, and again this is a perfect day ; the water 
is as smooth as glass and there will not be the least 
danger in our having to stop in the grotto for more 
than a few minutes. So, come along.” 

When they emerged, half an hour later, even 
Gabriella was pale. “ It was rather fearsome,” she 
declared. “ What with all those boats knocking 
against each other, with the cries of the boatmen, 
and the propect of being splashed by a big wave 
as you rode out, it wasn’t as funny as I anticipated. 
I think, however, that we came off very well, for our 
boatman was more careful than most.” 

“ It was wonderful, wonderful,” murmured Sidney. 
“ I am glad I went. To feel yourself surrounded by 
that wonderful pellucid blueness — ” 

“ Blueness doesn’t describe it,” Gabriella inter- 
rupted, “ it is too tame, too commonplace. I should 
say hlueth. It must have a word all to itself, for it is 
like nothing else in the heavens above or the earth 
beneath or the waters under the earth. Please adopt 
my word fresh from the mint.” 


34 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ We will,” Miss Cavendish promised. ‘‘ What 
an ideal day and how fortunate that we brought our 
lunch, for there is such a crowd ready to invade 
every cafe and restaurant that I doubt if we could 
be served very speedily or comfortably.” 

‘‘ It will be much more fun, too, to find some quaint 
little corner where we can have our meal al jresco. 
There, I have arrived at the proper spot for the proper 
use of that expression.” 

“Hear them calling: Coralli ! Coralli ! ” said 
Sidney as they took their way up the steep road. “I 
must buy something. Capri is the place for corals.” 

“ I’ll get some, too, if I can find a string for fifty 
cents. I’ll offer that for the best I see.” Gabriella 
cast her eyes critically over the corals presented by 
the nearest vendor. “ I am learning to Jew down 
most successfully, and I shall try my hand at a real 
bargain this time. See those lovely pale pink ones, 
Sidney. Do get those.” Which Sidney promptly 
did, while Gabriella chaffered and haggled over a 
less pretentious string, finally bearing it away in 
triumph. “What did I tell you?” she exclaimed. 
“ I knew I could get them for two and a half francs 
if I kept a firm front, and they are not half bad.” 

“ They will look much better at home, too,” Miss 
Cavendish assured her. “ Everyone finds that 
out, and wishes he or she had not passed by so 
many pretty, cheap trifles which seem so valuable 
to one’s friends at home. Do see those children 


‘‘UNDER WALLS OF PARADISE’’ 35 


dancing the tarantella as if it were the business of 
life. Did you ever see such a picture ? I shall have 
to give them some coppers.” 

“ And have them haunt you the rest of the day.” 

“Never mind; we shall have the fun of seeing 
them dance,” said Sidney. “ Aren’t they the funniest 
little creatures? See them snap their fingers and 
dance backward up this steep road.” 

“ Perhaps they can tell us where we can get some 
oranges,” said Gabriella. “ I confess to feeling a 
crying need for sustenance. Where is the dictionary ? 
What do you ask for? Arancio? Melarancio, or 
what ? ” She put a halting question, and the children 
stopped their dance and stood staring uncompre- 
hendingly. But a man, passing, halted and 
beckoned to the ladies, who followed him to a gate 
set in a high white wall by the roadside. The man 
unlocked the gate and ushered them into a sort of 
courtyard with stone seats on two sides. He politely 
motioned them to the seats, went further up the hill 
and cut from one of his orange trees a quantity of 
oranges which he brought to them. At the same 
time he made it known to them in the few English 
words that he knew that they were very welcome to 
eat their luncheon under his vine and fig tree, liter- 
ally. The little white house which opened into the 
courtyard appeared cleaner than most. A woman 
with a baby in her arms and with two or three chil- 
dren clinging to her skirts, peeped curiously from a 


36 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


portico above. Two little boys, more venturesome, 
came from the house to view the strangers, but they 
were quickly ordered out of sight and the ladies were 
left in possession. 

‘‘Isn’t this perfect, and isn’t he a dear?” said 
Gabriella. 

“ And how much better off we are than those 
personally conducted who are crowding the cafes 
and restaurants,” said Sidney, peeping over the wall. 

“ This is simply ideal. Here comes our dear man 
again. What has he now ? ” 

Their host approached, dusty bottle in hand. 
“ Would the signorinas be pleased to have a bottle of 
Lacrima Christi? He could recommend it? ” 

“ At least, that is what I gather from his remarks,” 
said Gabriella. “ Of course we want it. Grazie! 
Mille grazie, signor. Please to hear my fluent 
Italian, Gem. I am getting on.” 

Then glasses were brought and the wine was 
proffered to each. It proved to be delicious and the 
three congratulated themselves upon the happy 
chance that brought them to such a spot. They 
thanked their host as profusely as their vocabulary 
would permit and received the assurance that the 
padrone was pleased that he could give them of his 
best. Would they not remain awhile and rest? 
they should not be disturbed. He brought them 
fresh water and clean towels, removed the orange 
peels and soiled glasses and left nothing undone 


“UNDER WALLS OF PARADISE^’ 37 


which in any way would contribute to their comfort. 
In broken Italian on the one side and broken Eng- 
lish on the other a conversation was maintained, but 
the good will needed no words. 

“ We have intruded quite long enough,^’ declared 
Miss Cavendish at last. “ I wonder how much I 
should offer him.’’ She drew forth her purse; the 
contadino protested. She offered him coin; he 
refused it. Miss Cavendish turned to the girls 
aghast. “ He actually means us to accept his hospi- 
tality for nothing. Did you ever ? We can’t do that.” 

But at this moment a solution to the difficulty 
appeared in the person of a soft-eyed, dark-haired 
little girl bearing in her arms a cherubic baby. 
“ Your youngest? ” Miss Cavendish asked the man. 
He smiled joyously, showing his gleaming white 
teeth. “ Then this for the bambino,” said Miss 
Cavendish, putting a lira into each chubby hand, 
and they departed amid adieux and grazies from 
the entire family assembled to see them off. 

“ It was lovely, simply lovely,” said Miss Caven- 
dish, “ to discover such disinterested hospitality 
in this day and generation. I can scarcely believe 
that this grasping world possesses such a rarity 
as our contadino.'*^ 

“ You don’t suppose,” Sidney ventured hesitat- 
ingly, “ that it was all a pretence, and that the 
baby was brought in at the last moment for effect? 
It seems too Arcadian to be real.” 


38 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


“ Why, my dear,” Miss Cavendish exclaimed. 
“ Do you imagine that travellers are in the habit of 
knocking at his gate for admission? Why should 
they? I am sure no one would even know a house 
was there. He just happened to overhear us when 
we inquired for oranges. He doesn’t keep an inn, 
and I doubt if Americans ever entered his garden 
before. I must retain my belief that it was real 
kindliness and not a matter of loaves and fishes, else 
why did he refuse the money at first? We might 
have gone away then and there, you know. Oh, no, 
it was unmistakable generosity and true hospitality, 
and I think we shall see more of it before we leave 
Italy.” 


CHAPTER III 


IN HONOR OF A QUEEN 

Miss Cavendish was not disappointed in her 
optimistic belief in the kindliness of the Italians, 
for after Sorrento was reached and the three tired, 
but happy travellers had decided to quarter them- 
selves in an old monastery set in an orange grove, 
they undertook a journey into the village of flowers 
for the purpose of buying postal cards. A smile, 
a word of appreciation to the good old woman who 
kept the shop, and they were loaded with favors; 
huge bunches of roses were bestowed upon them, 
oranges of a size and flavor not before discovered, 
were offered them. 

It is Arcadia,” sighed Sidney. I knew it the 
moment our little boat stopped at that old stone 
landing and we went up, up that vaulted passage- 
way to the top of the bluff. Every time we came 
out upon one of those balconies to rest and looked 
down on that blue, blue sea I knew we were ‘ under 
the walls of paradise ’ in reality.” 

I knew it before that,” said Gabriella. I was 
thrilled with the fact when the steamer stopped off 
there in the bay and those little boats came up and 
39 


40 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


surrounded us. The boatmen looked so picturesque 
standing in those tiny tossing things and it was all 
so unlike anything I ever knew before. How did 
you ever happen to pick out the right one, Gem, 
when they were all babbling and clamoring so ? 

“ I have dreamed of this spot for years, Miss 
Cavendish told her. I read of it long ago and 
determined, once I had the good fortune to come 
to Sorrento, I would stop nowhere else.’’ 

It is so fascinating,” sighed Gabriella. Every- 
thing about it is fascinating down to the major domo 
with his five languages and his side-whiskers. I 
shall never forget my sensations when we reached 
the top of that old stone stairway and came out at 
last in the orange grove. Then when I learned that 
we could have all the oranges we wanted, and when 
I saw those busy little bees at work for us, I knew 
we had struck Elysium. I can tell you, dear people, 
those good bees will have to get awfully busy now 
I have come.” 

And then the orange-blossoms and the roses in 
such profusion,” Sidney continued the rhapsody. 

‘‘And the dinner,” Gabriella took up the strain; 
“ I never ate such good things in all my life.” 

“ And all for six francs a day, wine and lights 
included,” said Miss Cavendish. “ Girls, I vote 
we stay here two or three days; I’m sure we shall 
never regret it.” 

“ Oh, dearest Gem,” Gabriella threw herself 


IN HONOR OF A QUEEN 


41 


upon her friend in a transport of delight, it is what 
I have been longing to do from the time I set foot 
inside the walls, but I didn’t want to interfere with 
your plans.” 

Our plans aren’t cast iron,” returned Miss 
Cavendish ; that is the beauty of them ; we can 
do what we please when we please and how we 
please. If we prefer to stay in Italy the entire six 
months we can do it and nobody can object.” 

‘‘ I am so happy,” sighed Sidney. 

“ I am so ecstatically joyful,” cried Gabriella, 
that I don’t believe I could stand much more. 
Oh, the bliss of being here in this spot of spots, and 
of knowing that we shall have time to learn it better. 
We can stay over Sunday, can’t we. Gem? ” 

We can and we will. I don’t know of a better 
place for that day of rest.” 

Night lay upon Sorrento. Across the bay the 
lights of Naples twinkled through the lambent 
atmosphere. High above the plain the red fires of 
Vesuvius once in a while shot up wickedly. From 
Sorrento’s bluffs one could look down upon the 
doubles of stars reflected in the blue waters beneath. 
The orange groves sent forth a delicious odor, which, 
mingling with the scent of roses, filled the air with 
a mysterious sweetness whose source was visibly 
discerned only when one caught a glimpse of pale 
blossoms rioting over the grey walls. 

Miss Cavendish and Sidney were treading the 


42 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


path which led between rows of orange and lemon 
trees to the edge of the bluff. We should certainly 
hear nightingales here,’’ remarked Miss Cavendish. 

Of all places this is where I should expect to hear 
them. It may not be the season for the full song, 
yet it does seem to me that I can detect a very sweet 
twittering which comes from the depths of that garden 
next us.” 

‘‘ It belongs to the villa of a princess,” Sidney 
told her. ‘‘ Gabriella and I have peeped in and we 
are dying to penetrate further. It looks perfectly 
fascinating like the pictures one sees of such places 
in the Century Magazine. That was the lodge we 
passed on our way to the town this afternoon; that 
house, you know, where they had all those birds and 
monkeys and things. What a perfect night.” 

And what a perfect day, or rather days we have 
had; each one as exquisite as it would be possible 
for weather to give.” 

“ And to think we saw the Queen of Holland face 
to face. Wasn’t that luck? Here comes Gabriella; 
I hear her calling us.” 

‘‘Where are you two?” Gabriella’s voice pene- 
trated the quiet. “ Gem, Sidney? Ah, I thought I 
should find you here. Isn’t it perfect? But you 
can’t stay, for our host has asked some of us to go 
into the gardens of the princess, where we can see 
the illuminations. They are going to send up fire- 
works from the village in honor of Queen Wilhelmina. 


IN HONOR OF A QUEEN 


43 


There is to be a boat race, too, and all the houses 
along the bluff are lighted up gorgeously. Come 
along; the others are waiting.’^ 

Her companions needed no second bidding, and 
a little party was soon on its way down the dusty 
road to the lodge. The garden, when they entered, 
was dimly beautiful, but as they advanced they per- 
ceived lanterns swinging from the archways, while 
upon the marble balustrade of the long colonnade 
were set, at intervals, tiny lamps of so primitive a 
character that they seemed a remnant of antiquity. 

Aren’t they pretty? ” said Gabriella, leaning over 
to look at them closer. They are nothing in the 
world but tumblers with oil in them and little lighted 
wicks floating on top. Did you ever suspect, Sid, 
to be walking in such a place on such a night ? Did 
you ever expect to be presented to anyone’s vision 
against a background of clipped hedges and mar- 
vellous peacock-shaped bushes and marble statuary 
and urns and amphoras and things? When I get 
rich I shall buy a villa at Sorrento and you shall 
both come and spend months with me. I have 
found the one place in the world that was made for 
me. There goes a rocket. Come, we must do honor 
to the queen by gazing at her fireworks.” 

For an hour or more the little company enjoyed 
the scene, and then they were piloted home by their 
host, sombrely wrapped in his black cloak, a broad- 
brimmed hat set upon his dark curling locks. 


44 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ He looks as if he had stepped out of an old 
romance/^ whispered Sidney, ‘‘ and I feel as if I 
were here upon some mysterious errand, stealing 
through this dim garden, and through these dark 
unfamiliar rooms.” At this moment a harsh cry 
at her very side startled her, and her sleeve was 
suddenly caught and held. She gave a slight scream 
which brought the keeper of the lodge and, by the 
light of a swinging lamp which he turned in her 
direction, they discovered that a gorgeous parrot 
had resented this intrusion and had given a sudden 
peck at the passing stranger. 

Till midnight the festivities were kept up, and all 
Sorrento joined in the celebration, but at last the 
final rocket soared into the sky and fell hissing into 
the waters below. Then only the gloomy fires of 
Vesuvius glowed sullenly upon the mountain top 
while Sorrento slept. 

Gabriella, however, remained awake for a long 
time. New and vivid impressions had been made 
too rapidly upon her brain and she stole from her 
bed to creep out upon the balcony, thinking the 
peace of the night might enter her soul and quiet 
her. The faint and far tinkle of a mandolin, the 
occasional twitter of a bird in the deep grove, the 
plash of the water on the sands far below were the 
only sounds she could hear. Night in Italy and 
I am here, while at home my little mother has no 
idea of the joy of it. She is burdened by the cares 


IN HONOR OF A QUEEN 


45 


of the day, by the never ceasing grind of existence.” 
The girl sighed, and her eyes filled. “ Oh, sweetest 
mother, I am thinking of you, and I am wishing 
that I could share this rapture with you. It is rapture, 
this being here, and across the sea I send you a 
wish for some great joy to come to you to-morrow.” 
After these thoughts Gabriella tiptoed back to her 
bed and the morning brought the mother her child's 
first letter from foreign lands. 

But on that morrow no one could detect in Gabri- 
ella a suggestion of her mood of the night before. 
She was all sparkle and gladness, bubbling over 
with nonsense and ready for anything. Eager for 
mental as well as carnal food, she declared herself. 

Like Saint Lucy I seem to keep my eyes in a dish, 
I eat so much,” she said. You might send a picture 
of me to mother, and under it write, ^ Saint Gabriella 
with her eyes in a dish.' I'll take your egg. Gem, 
if you are not going to eat it.” 

Can you really manage it, Gabriella, with 
polenta and honey, too, not to mention all that 
toast? ” asked Miss Cavendish. 

“ Oh, yes, I can manage it, thank you,” replied 
Gabriella cheerfully; “ the bees will have to work 
over-time, that's all. It won't hurt them ; I'd do the 
same for the sake of living in an orange grove and 
always having honey for breakfast. I want to learn 
something about Tasso to-day. Gem, so please prime 
yourself, for I don't intend to lose any opportunity 


46 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


of improving my mind. I must find out why and 
when and to what degree his spirit soared and sung. 
Any facts gratefully received. We will repair to 
the orange grove immediately after breakfast. I 
expect to eat at least six oranges before lunch time.^’ 
‘‘You will be in no state then for improving your 
mind, I fear,’^ returned Miss Cavendish. 

“ Won’t I ? Just try me. I am not to be outdone 
by a little thing like an extra egg. I am simply the 
better reinforced. Brain work is very exhausting 
to the system and I must repair the waste. Have 
you finished, Sid ? Were you going to send for some 
more hot polenta? ” 

“ I have finished. Why? ” 

“ Nothing ; 1 only thought if you couldn’t eat all 
that polenta I might help you out.” 

“ Gabriella Thome, you shall not have another 
mouthful,” declared Miss Cavendish. “ I am 
responsible to your mother for you, and I shall not 
return her either a wreck or a glutton.” 

Gabriella laughed and arose from her place. 
“ That settles it. I am now ready for Tasso. Let 
us to the orange grove; some one will have our 
seat if I tarry any longer.” 

They wandered down the shady path and estab- 
lished themselves upon one of the old stone benches 
by the wall. This spot overlooked the magnificent 
expanse of blue sea and sky, with Ischia and Capri 
hazily azure on the one side and the cone of smoking 


IN HONOR OF A QUEEN 


47 


Vesuvius on the other. Far below them glistened 
the white sands upon which the long ripples plashed 
with a gentle murmur. The eye following the line 
of the bluff was arrested here and there by some 
brilliant blossom swinging from its slight hold in a 
crannied rock, and the song of a boatman, standing 
as he rowed, came sweetly to their ears. 

Miss Cavendish carefully spread a shawl over the 
stone bench littered with leaves and green with moss. 
She looked at the lovely scene before her. And 
this was what the young eyes of Torquato Tasso 
saw,” she said after a while. He was born in 
Sorrento in 1 544. He left this fair spot when he was 
ten years old and joined his father in Rome. His 
mother was of Sorrento. Porzia de Rossi was her 
name. Tasso was well bom and had more than 
usual advantages in education. Of course you 
know that he wrote ‘ Rinaldo ’ and the ‘ Geru- 
salemme Liberata,’ the first a heroic romance, the 
second a heroic record of the conquest of Jerusalem 
by the Crusaders. He was a great poet, so great 
that his father, no mean poet himself, at first was 
jealous, but afterward he rejoiced in the brilliant 
successes of his son Torquato.” 

And poor Tasso became insane; I know that 
much about him,” said Gabriella. 

“ Yes, in his case it was true that whom the gods 
destroy they first made mad. He believed that he 
was pursued by secret persecutors who had declared 


48 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


him a heretic and had denounced him to the Inquisi- 
tion. These delusions were not constant and, in 
this, his native spot, he recovered his equilibrium.’’ 

Who wouldn’t? ” sighed Gabriella. ‘‘ I am sure 
I would. Go on, Gem.” 

“ But when he returned to the old excitements of 
court life, the malady again appeared and he finally 
died in the monastery of Sant’ Onofrio in Rome.” 

“ We must go there,” said Sidney. “ I am 
interested in Tasso. I’d like to hear more details 
of his life.” 

That is one of the joys,” remarked Gabriella ; 

every spot one visits re-creates a desire to dive 
deeper into books. I feel my mind expanding 
hourly, and the beauty of it is that what you learn 
over here will stick, for it will be accentuated by 
these living pictures.” 

Oh, to know the languages,” said Sidney. 
‘‘ Don’t you feel yourself a perfect ignoramus when 
you run across a ragged little urchin, or a wretch of 
a cab driver who can speak fluently two or three 
languages? I have been put to shame more than 
once by the poorest sort of shop-keeper, who knows 
English and French besides his own native Italian.” 

'' As a nation,” remarked Miss Cavendish, we 
are exceedingly well satisfied. Our language is 
sufficient for us. We are not dependent upon 
foreigners for our bread and butter as the Italians 
are. Moreover, our country is so large and, as 


IN HONOR OF A QUEEN 


49 


English is its universal language, we do not feel 
required to learn another. Here if they but step 
over the border it is to hear a strange tongue.’’ 

Nevertheless, I don’t think we are the linguists 
we should be,” said Sidney. When I go home I shall 
take up French and German again so when I come 
abroad another time I shall not feel such a goose.” 

“ May fate order that we be her travelling com- 
panions that next time,” said Gabriella. ‘‘ Now, 
what I should like to do, would be to stay right here 
in this dear old place and study Italian, read Italian 
literature and all that. I’d begin with Tasso.” 

And learn to drop the O from Sorrento, and in 
fact slip off the penultimate as most of these of 
Sorrento do. I’d advise you to study Italian else- 
where than in Southern Italy unless you are sure 
of your master’s knowledge of the language. I 
should begin, too, my literature further back than 
Tasso,” Miss Cavendish went on. “ I should take 
Dante first and follow him up with Petrarch, though 
both of them belong properly to Florence and might 
better be studied there. Still they were also Italian, 
if Florentines, and if one had the time to linger in 
this charmed Sorrento, what more delightful than to 
make a comprehensive study of Italian literature in 
this very place ? ” 

“ And learn to read it in the original,” interposed 
Gabriella. Oh me, life is much too short to do 
all there is to do. How can anybody call his days 


50 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


flat and uneventful when there is a whole world to 
explore, if not in the body, in the mind? I wish I 
were twins that I might have one of me for the work- 
a-day world and the other to do those things which 
please only my love of the aesthetic. Yes, I regret 
more and more that loss of a Methuselah’s length 
of years, but since we have not time for plodding, 
let us take a short cut to-day, so please, ma’am, tell 
us more of Tasso. I wish you remembered some of 
his poetry.” 

Perhaps I do, a little. You are familiar with 
those well-known stanzas upon Carthage : 

« * Great Carthage prostrate lies ; and scarce a trace 
Of all her mighty ruins marks the place 
Where once she stood : thus Desolation waits 
On loftiest cities, and on proudest states ; 

Huge heaps of sand, and waving herbage hide 
The pomp of power, the monuments of pride ; 

And yet does man, poor child of earth presume 
To mourn vain arrogance ! his mortal doom ! * 

‘‘ Tasso wrote more than a thousand sonnets and 
such like poems. I wish I could repeat some of 
them.” 

The next time we come to Sorrento we must 
bring a volume of his poems with us,” Sidney decided. 

‘‘ When we go to Florence we will be saying that 
we must have Dante and Petrarch, and in Rome — 
dear, dear, what shall we not want? ” said Gabriella. 
‘‘ No, Sidney, our baby trunks will not hold any 


IN HONOR OF A QUEEN 


51 


accumulation of books. We shall have to store 
our minds, and carry our information as the bees do 
honey to be placed in the honeycombs afterward. 
After this mental effort I feel the need of an orange. 
Sid, will you help me to get some for all of us? ’’ 

Miss Cavendish picked up her book and the girls 
wandered off among the orange trees. She heard 
their laughing voices in merry, chaffing, girlish talk. 
They were so happy that she could not refrain from 
joining them. They were leaning over the wall 
looking at the beautiful scene before them. 

Sid wants a history,” said Gabriella, as Miss 
Cavendish came up, but I need a dictionary of 
my own language. I don^t care what this place has 
been ; all I want to know is where I can find adjec- 
tives enough to adequately express my present ad- 
miration for what it is. I have used exquisite, divine, 
perfect, delicious, fascinating, bewildering so many 
times that I am getting ashamed of myself, and now 
I am beginning to say wunderschoen till Sid laughs 
at me. What am I to do? I simply cannot re- 
strain my desire to express what I feel, and I am 
helpless with such a limited vocabulary. What am 
I to do?” 

“ There is no use in telling you to exercise self- 
control, so I suppose the only thing you can do is 
to wear your adjectives threadbare. We can stand 
it when we consider the occasion.” 

“ But isn^t it the most exquisite panorama you 


52 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


ever saw? ’’ said Gabriella for the hundredth time. 
“ I donh care a rap about Herculaneum and Pompeii 
and ancient Greek civilization when I can glory in 
the presence of such color, such composition. I 
am afraid I am not historically inclined. I have 
decided that in my last incarnation I was an artist. 
Go to, Sidney. Don’t ask Gem another question 
about the different eruptions of Vesuvius. Who 
cares for stale dates when one can get fresh oranges ?” 

“ Gabriella, you are incorrigible,” said Miss 
Cavendish. “Go off and make those meaningless 
speeches to yourself while Sidney and I improve 
our minds.” 

“ No, I’ll play the Gamaliel act, too, and sit at 
your feet,” returned Gabriella. 

“ Then you will have to promise not to interrupt.” 

“ Oh, I can promise fast enough, if that’s all,” 
returned the girl, laughing. “ But do draw it mild. 
If you encourage Sid in these investigations she will 
demand that you take up the study of cuneiform 
and will insist upon buying queer things like the 
Rosetta stone. There is no telling, once such a craze 
overtakes one, where it will lead.” 

“ If Gabriella is going to keep up this incessant 
gabble,” said Miss Cavendish, “ you and I, Sidney, 
would better go somewhere else.” 

“ I will be good ; I promise,” said Gabriella. 

“But will you perform ? ” 

“ Yes, I really will. To think that Vesuvius was 


IN HONOR OF A QUEEN 


53 


once smiling with green vines, and that no one sus- 
pected it to be a volcano. There, doesn’t that show 
my interest and my intimate knowledge of the 
subject? Spare me dates, good lady and I am a 
meek Gamaliel.” 

The first recorded eruption took place in A. d. 
79,” began Miss Cavendish. 

She begins with dates right away,” groaned 
Gabriella. I fear my mortal mind cannot stand 
it. I will go and write to mother. Farewell, dears, 
loath as I am to leave you, I cannot look at Vesuvius 
arithmetically. I prefer its ^ misty brim ’ to remain 
misty so far as history is concerned. Farewell, 
oh, sapient educator, and inquisitive pupil. I am 
going.” 


CHAPTER IV 


THE BRITON 

Such a gay little cavalcade we are,” said Gabri- 
ella, looking back over the long white road which 
wound along the cliffs above the bluest of seas and 
beneath the bluest of skies. I didn’t think Gem 
would desert us so early in the fray,” she continued, 
‘‘ but I think she really does enjoy those nice English 
women that we met at Sorrento, and she thought 
it would be rather fun for us two girls to have this 
drive to ourselves. I notice she has discreetly sent 
us on ahead of her carriage and that she intervenes 
between us and that young Englishman and his 
friend whom we caught sight of as we were leaving 
the town. Did you ever see anything so rakish as 
these little horses with the long feather sticking out 
of their heads? ‘ Stick a feather in his cap and call 
him Maccaroni ; ’ that would be a good name for 
an Italian horse.” 

Sidney looked back. The Englishman’s carriage 
has passed Gem’s. I believe they want to lead.” 

Beasts ! We shall get all their dust. Where’s 
the dictionary? What do we say when we want 
the driver to go faster? ” 


64 


THE BRITON 


55 


We mustn’t get ahead of Gem’s carriage ; we 
must keep just a little in advance of it.” 

But I will not have that haughty Briton’s dust, 
I declare it. I am a free-born American citizen and 
I absolutely refuse to be treated with spurn by any 
Englishman that ever trod.” 

Sidney looked back to gain further information. 
‘‘They have slacked up. Oh, Gabriella, look; 
they are amicably conversing with Gem’s Sorrento 
acquaintances. Do you suppose they know them? ” 

“ Perhaps, but don’t look back again as you value 
your life. I feel hostile.” 

“ And why? ” 

“ Oh, because I don’t want them to know that 
we are aware of their existence. Let’s talk about 
Tiberius. My book says that he is still considered 
the patron of Capri, and that there they yet regard 
him with pride. I’d like to go to Capri and stay 
a while, although they say that the tourists are 
spoiling it. Anacapri is still provincial, I believe.” 

“ I am sure we found an unspoiled resident of the 
island,” remarked Sidney. 

“ We surely did ; I acknowledge that. Sidney, 
you might look back just once and glimpse them; 
as it were. We mustn’t get too far ahead.” 

“ They are forging along,” Sidney reported, “ and 
Gem is waving her handkerchief. Does that mean 
we are to call a halt? ” 

“ It means something. We’ll have to stop and 


56 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


see what. Cocchiere jermo. That is what the 
dictionary says. I hope it is right.” 

Evidently it is, as we have stopped. Are you 
going to get out? ” 

No, I am going to wait events. I am nothing 
if not cautious.” 

The other carriages came up to them and Miss 
Cavendish called. We are going to have luncheon 
now, girls.” 

Must we get out? ” asked Sidney. 

“ No, no,” expostulated Gabriella, acquiring an 
English reserve at once. ‘‘ We can drive alongside, 
Sidney, the other side from the Britons.” 

But all this scheming came to naught, for no 
sooner were the three carriages grouped by the 
side of the road than Mr. Owen Morgan and his 
friend, Herr Muller, were presented to the girls by 
the Misses Bailey, whose friends they were, and it 
turned out that the Englishman was not strictly 
English but Welsh. Gabriella unfroze a little, for 
she had a confessed weakness for anything Welsh, 
and announced that she considered a Welsh rarebit 
the choicest of treats. Sidney was pleasantly polite 
to the German whose English was meagre but who 
spoke fairly good French, and, therefore, in a little 
while it was really quite a jolly party. The gentle- 
men gallantly waited on the ladies, sharing their 
luncheon with them, while the ladies produced their 
own stores. ‘‘ To be sure,” said Gabriella after- 


THE BRITON 


57 


ward, our stores were much the best, for that dear 
delightful old man at the pension had put such 
delicious things in our basket, toothsome little cakes 
and those delectable raisiny things done up with 
spices and baked in fig leaves. We had figs and 
oranges galore, too, but I must say the masculines 
furnished better wine than ours.’’ 

They set off again very gaily after luncheon and 
all reached Amalfi together. Miss Cavendish and 
her girls separating from the others at this place. 

“ It is a dear and lovely spot but not as fascinating 
as the one we have just left,” said Sidney, ‘‘ though 
Miss Mildred Bailey likes it better.” 

I don’t see how she could,” returned Gabriella. 

I wouldn’t exchange this clean, quiet little hotel 
for theirs, either.” 

It is well to be so content with what is a matter 
of economy,” said Miss Cavendish, for this is much 
the cheaper.” 

So much the better for that. How did you like 
the masculine element. Gem? Now, I come to 
think of it, I believe that it is because of those 
ravening wolves that you have brought your meek 
little lambs here, so as to get them away from 
danger.” 

You are such a very meek little lamb,” remarked 
Miss Cavendish. I noticed what a very faint and 
protesting bleat you gave to that young Morgan.” 

Sidney’s French is better than mine, so I naturally 


58 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


turned her over to the German while Owen Morgan 
and I talked of Welsh rarebit and — things. Hasn’t 
he the dearest Welsh name? ” 

It is very Welsh ; I don’t know how dear it may 
be to you,” answered Miss Cavendish. 

“It is very dear to-day, but I cannot tell how it 
may seem to-morrow. I saw the elder Miss Bailey 
looking very hard at me once or twice, but I knew 
you, my dearest Gem, could not disapprove of my 
making myself agreeable and of keeping up our 
national reputation for vivacity. I have noticed that 
the English girls, the few that I have seen, are not 
animated. I suppose Miss Bailey was studying me 
as a type.” 

“ We shall see them again,” remarked Miss 
Cavendish, “ for we are going up to the Cappuchini, 
and they promised to look out for us.” 

But they did not see their travelling companions 
of the morning, for Gabriella caught sight of them 
in the town and insisted that they should take the 
opportunity of visiting the famous old monastery 
before the Bailey party should have returned to it, 
and, after the long climb up the cliffs and a rest 
under the vines of the garden, they returned without 
regret to their own simpler establishment. 

“ It is certainly a delightful spot, or would be if 
it were not so full of new richness,” declared Gabri- 
ella. “ It is exactly like the pictures of it on the 
postal cards, but I like this place better, where I 





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THE BRITON 


59 


don’t feel as if we had to pay a centisimi for every 
breath we draw.” 

Do you notice how we are beset by beggars here 
in Amalfi?” said Sidney. “ They are even worse 
than they were in Naples, and that is saying a good 
deal. We didn’t have near so many at Sorrento. 
Come here, Gabriella, and see them below our 
windows.” 

Gabriella joined her. I just stepped out here 
to look at the view,” continued Sidney, and there 
were dozens of them clamoring for una soldi ^ 

We can go into that cunning little garden,” 
said Gabriella, and get rid of them. I believe I 
must not say cunning; it is an Americanism which 
will be misunderstood by our English friends, who 
will think I mean crafty. I wonder if we shall 
meet them again. They are not going on to Paestum, 
but will return to Naples by way of Castellemare. 
Gem seems rather sorry. I think she likes the young 
men ; they amuse her. I must confess that they also 
amuse me.” 

“ I shall never forget that early morning drive 
to Amalfi,” mused Sidney. I should feel well 
repaid for having crossed the ocean if I saw nothing 
more than this lovely southern Italy.” 

If I were to be recalled this minute I should not 
regret having made the trip,” remarked Miss Caven- 
dish. “ Travelling in this section is certainly made 
very easy.” 


60 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


But she changed her mind somewhat before they 
reached Pompeii; for, after having expended their 
adjectives freely in admiring the splendid Greek 
temples of Paestum, they set out to continue their 
way to Naples by way of Pompeii. Their experience 
had been that nearly everywhere it was possible to 
find some one who could speak English, and were now 
expecting nothing less. They had in the beginning 
carefully prepared sentences, studiously constructing 
them from the dictionary and phrase book, and then 
presenting them haltingly only to have them answered 
in perfectly correct English, so that it seemed rather 
superfluous to worry over the matter of acquiring a 
strange language, as time went on. 

It did very well at the shops and hotels and such 
places,^’ said Miss Cavendish, looking helplessly at 
her tickets, but there seems to be an unwritten law 
that at the railroad stations none of the officials are 
to speak English. These tickets have a notice at- 
tached saying that they are to be signed somewhere 
by somebody. I infer, from what I can make out, 
that it must be done at the first station, so we must 
get off there.’’ 

When this point was reached they all rushed from 
the train and sought the ticket-office, none too easily 
discovered, to learn that their errand was unneces- 
sary, so they hurried back to their places- 

All that hurry for nothing,” panted Miss Caven- 
dish. 


THE BRITON 


61 


I shouldn’t have minded it so much,” said 
Gabriella, “ if that pestiferously officious man had 
not hampered us by pretending he knew what we 
wanted, and after all was only a hindrance. He made 
me so mad, and I wouldn’t have given him a penny, 
although that was what he expected. Why, he didn’t 
do a thing but get in our way. If we had missed the 
train on his account, I should like to have done 
something to him.” 

“We changed at Battapaglia, didn’t we?” said 
Miss Cavendish in the course of half an hour. 

Gabriella did not remember, but Sidney did. 
“ Yes,” she replied, “ that was the place. I remember 
perfectly.” 

“ Then we must not fail to be ready to get out 
there. Not one of these guards can understand a 
word we say, so we shall have to look out for our- 
selves. There, we are slowing up now. The guard 
called something. Didn’t it sound to you like 
Battapaglia? ” 

“It certainly did,” agreed the two girls, and they 
picked up their traps, and hastened out. Each had 
a satchel; Gabriella had a package of Sorrento 
wood- work; Sidney had a bundle of silk stuffs 
which she had bought at the same place; Miss 
Cavendish had the golf capes and the umbrellas. 
It was something to get all these belongings together, 
but they managed it only to find that it was not 
Battapaglia, but a place similar in name. 


62 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


We are fortunate always to be able to get the 
same train/’ said Sidney, sinking down into her 
place. 

‘‘ There is some comfort in knowing the train will 
wait for us,” said Miss Cavendish ; “ they never seem 
to be in any hurry to start.” 

The real Battapaglia was reached in due time ; it 
was plain enough to discover the name on a big 
sign, and being sure that this time they were right 
the three ladies left the train. But after rushing 
from one side of the platform to the other, they found 
an official who was made to understand that they 
wanted to go to Pompeii, and who hurried them 
back to the same train which they had just left. 

Isn’t it the most patient, good-natured thing 
you ever saw? ” said Gabriella, as she sank laughing 
into her seat. I never believed a train could so 
take upon itself the characteristics of a people. It 
simply stands till we get through our vagaries and 
then takes us aboard and goes on again.” 

‘‘ It is a through train, I suppose,” said Miss 
Cavendish, as if she rather regretted the fact. “ Now 
we must make no more mistakes, but must have our 
eyes open for Pompeii.” 

Sidney kept a sharp lookout and at last announced, 
‘‘ This is it. ‘ Val de Pompeii.’ There can’t be 
more than one Pompeii, can there? ” 

They gathered up their belongings and fared forth. 
Miss Cavendish grasped a guard by the coat sleeve 


THE BRITON 


63 


and showed him her tickets. Si, si,” he said. But 
the wayfarers had only walked a short distance up 
the platform when Miss Cavendish was seized with 
doubts. Where was the Hotel Suisse? the Hotel 
Diomede? The three retraced their steps and Miss 
Cavendish fell upon a passing traveller. Is this 
the station for Pompeii ? ” she asked. 

The man shook his head. Val de Pompeii. 
Non Pompeii.” They rushed tumultuously back, 
and there still stood the little train as ready as ever 
to take them on, and this time they did not leave 
it till Pompeii was actually reached. 

“ Imagine such an experience in our country,” 
gasped Miss Cavendish, “ but, even over here, I 
defy anybody to do more than take the same train 
four times in one afternoon.” 

Both Gabriella and Sidney were mute. The limit 
of human endurance had been reached, and when 
they dragged forth their suit cases for the last time 
and found their way to the hotel, it was Gabriella 
who rushed up to the smiling host who met them at 
the door. Do you speak English? ” she queried 
anxiously and excitedly. 

Yes, miss,” he replied. 

Thank Heaven ! ” she ejaculated. We have 
found some one we can tell our troubles to.” 

It is so comfortable to feel that we do not even 
have to remember aqua caldCf^^ said Sidney, when 
they had been shown to their rooms and had 


64 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

given their orders to a neat little English-speaking 
maid. 

“ And to think that we shall not have to examine 
a dictionary before our appetites can be appeased/^ 
said Gabriella. No sallying forth for me, this 
evening, I shall simply sit in this hotel and gloat.’’ 

I think we shall all do well to rest,” said Miss 
Cavendish, for we shall need all our energies 
to-morrow for the ruined city. Pray we may have 
an intelligent guide.” 

Who speaks intelligible English,” said Sid- 
ney. 

Their guide happened to fill both these require- 
ments, and moreover, added to the merit of good 
looks the fact that he was from Sorrento. 

I never dreamed it would be so absorbingly 
interesting,” said Gabriella, as they came away 
after spending their day among the ruins. “ I 
think it was half that handsome guide who spoke 
such excellent English. He made it so fascinating 
to me.” 

“ He made it fascinating to us all,” said Miss 
Cavendish. “ That silent city ! How many times I 
shall think of the story it told us. How many times 
I shall look back to the sunshiny morning when we 
wandered through the desolate streets, in fancy 
hearing the shout of charioteers, in fancy seeing 
the helmeted soldiers, the exquisites in their robe 
making their way to the thermae; seeing Nydia 


THE BRITON 


65 


bearing her flowers, and the slaves with their 
amphorae.” 

Dear me, Gem,” cried Gabriella, you are 
waxing booky. Didn^t you love to see the little 
lizards twinkling in and out the overthrown stones? 
Isn’t it strange to think they are the only inhabitants 
of that old city, and that people of another race now 
haunt the place to wonder at the splendor of a 
departed glory? ” 

Who’s talking booky now ? ” laughed Sidney. 

Come, dear people, we must finish ‘ The Last 
Days of Pompeii ’ to-night or we shall find that it 
is lapping over upon some of the things we shall 
have to read in Rome.” 

Had you thought of making the ascent of 
Vesuvius?” Gabriella asked Miss Cavendish the 
next morning. 

I had thought of it, but it is an expensive trip, 
and I, for one, do not need to put my hand on 
wonders of that kind in order to enjoy them. I 
think we can get all the satisfaction we want from 
a volcano by looking at it from a distance.” 

Gabriella looked a little disappointed. She liked 
the daring and difficult things. There is a way 
of going up from this side which is much cheaper,” 
she remarked. “ Our guide told me about it.” 

“ Oh, but we mustn’t do it unless there is a big 
party,” Sidney broke in. ‘‘I had some friends who 
took that trip and they had a dreadful time. It cost 


66 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


twice as much as they had been given to suppose it 
would, and it was really very dangerous, they heard 
afterward. They were three ladies who undertook 
the trip, and their friends in Naples were shocked 
to think they had trusted themselves to those strange 
guides that no one knew anything about, and who 
might have robbed them and thrown them into the 
crater and no one would have been the wiser.” 

“ I can vouch for their not robbing me,” remarked 
Gabriella, with a laugh. But that grewsome sug- 
gestion of yours, Sidney, cures me of any desire to 
go up except in the most commonplace way on an 
orderly funicular railway. I must confess I had 
visions of riding a donkey, or of being toted by two 
lusty guides when we came to the steepest places, 
but I have no ambition to be thrown into a fiery 
furnace.” And she walked off humming, ‘‘ Where, 
oh, where are the Hebrew children.” 

“ I am afraid Gabriella is disappointed,” said 
Sidney, regretfully, but really. Gem, I don’t think 
we ought to go on that trip. You know Gabriella’s 
utter confidence in humanity. She would, like as 
not, give one of those men her pocketbook to hold, 
and so arouse his cupidity. I have already seen her 
share her chocolate with the most vicious looking of 
cab-drivers, and I am sure she would do the same 
with those rascally donkey boys. It wouldn’t be 
safe.” 

‘‘ I agree with you,” said Miss Cavendish. ‘‘Yet 


THE BRITON 


67 


Gabrielians smiling confidence and her good comrade- 
ship gains us more than one favor. She will hob- 
nob with anybody, and is rarely taken advantage of, 
by even the most wily old cheats, just because she 
is so sweetly trusting. That blind man who gave 
her the empty match-box would never have done it if 
he could have seen her smile.’ ’ 

“ Let us hope Gabriella’s smile will be the means 
of getting us out of all future difficulties,” said 
Sidney, who, being very tired, was slightly pessi- 
mistic. 

What’s that about difficulties? ” asked Gabriella, 
coming in from the balcony. We aren’t going to 
have any. Next time I shall get a time-table and 
shall study up all the stations as we go along. You 
don’t suppose by any chance we shall miss getting 
out at Rome when we get there, do you? There 
can’t be a Val de Roma, but I’ll make it my business 
to find out if there is. Come out, Sid, and hear those 
dear men singing ‘ Funiculi, Funicula.’ When shall 
we hear that song again, I wonder. I am sure when- 
ever I do it will make me homesick for this lovely 
southern Italy. Come, Sidney.” And the two went 
out to expend their coppers upon the singers in the 
street below. 


CHAPTER V 


ROMANCES 

Another day found the travellers on their way 
to Rome. Yielding to Sidney’s persuasions and 
those of three fellow pensionnaires Miss Cavendish 
took first-class tickets that the six might have a 
compartment to themselves. ‘‘ Though really,” 
said she, “it is a waste of money, for the only 
difference that I can see is in tidies or no tidies; 
the first-class have them and the second do not, 
but as the trains are usually very crowded this time 
of year it may be as well that we go this way.” 

“ We shall be regarded as such rich Americans,” 
remarked Gabriella. 

“ But we shall have all the room we need for our 
comfort,” said Sidney. But alas, for their hopes, 
on this occasion it rained for the first time since 
their arrival in Italy, and the roof of the first-class 
carriage was leaky, so that to obtain any comfort 
at all they had to squeeze closely into the four corners 
to prevent their receiving the constant dripping from 
overhead and to keep their feet from the little puddle 
of water which gathered in the middle of the floor. 

“ And they call this first-class,” said Gabriella, 
68 


ROMANCES 


69 


as they left their places when their destination was 
reached. “ Give me second-class after this. Ill 
willingly forego the tidies, — or antimacassars as 
our English friends call them, — for the sake of a 
dry journey. We couldn’t have been more crowded 
if there had been ten of us instead of six.” 

“ Never mind, it is all over now,” said Miss 
Cavendish, “ and we will not do it again.” 

Is this really Rome? ” said Sidney, as they drove 
through the Via Nazionale; ‘‘ it looks so dreadfully 
new.” 

It certainly is Rome,” returned Miss Cavendish, 
“ but it is not all of Rome.” 

I am sure there is an old, a very old something,” 
said Gabriella, who had caught sight of the Thermae 
of Diocletian. 

Oh, but I am disappointed,” said Sidney. “ It 
doesn’t look a bit like what I expected.” 

“ This is the modern quarter,” said Miss Caven- 
dish, reassuringly. ‘‘ I fancied we would get better 
air in this direction. When you have looked upon the 
wonders of the Vatican, have seen the Colosseum 
by moonlight, and have driven out the Appian Way 
you will recognize the antiquity of it.” 

And when we have seen the Catacombs and the 
Forum and all that, I am sure we shall know it is 
Rome. There are some soldiers, Sid.” 

‘‘ Yes, the old Praetorian camp was not far from 
here and is still used, I am told.” 


70 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


There ! what do you want more antiquely sug- 
gestive than that? ’’ said Gabriella. ‘‘ Imagine Peter 
and Paul and all those perhaps walking over this 
very spot.’’ 

Yes, but it didn’t look then as it does now,” 
said Sidney, who had not recovered from the blow 
to her expectations. Is this the house. Gem? ” 
Miss Cavendish alighted and made her inquiries. 
Seven flights up, girls, and no lift. This is dreadful. 
If I had only thought to inquire what floor the 
pension was on I would never have engaged our 
rooms here. I see visions of a worn-out trio when 
we are through with our sight-seeing.” 

‘‘ Oh, well, if we don’t like it we can go somewhere 
else,” said Gabriella cheerfully. You know it 
was hard enough to get in anywhere and I am sure 
this looks very nice. Now, what we want to do is 
to get in out of the rain.” 

They were not impressed with the accommodations 
offered them, but the city was overcrowded, there 
being the Easter visitors still remaining and now 
supplemented by those who had arrived because of 
the promised pageant in honor of a visiting dignitary, 
therefore it was decided to make the best of it, 
though the table was poor and the rooms unattractive. 
Still, the neighborhood was a convenient one, and 
their hostess was a person of unusual intelligence, 
ready to give them any information they stood in 
need of. 


ROMANCES 


71 


‘‘ We shall have to stand the dreadful butter and 
the awful bread for the sake of the mental stimulants 
we obtain here/^ said Gabriella. When we cannot 
stand it any longer we can get something at one of 
the Has outside. I noticed that there is a latteria, 
a drogheria and a heccharia just over the way,” she 
added glibly. 

‘‘ For pity’s sake,” cried Sidney, how could you 
notice and remember all those names? ” 

“ Oh,” returned Gabriella nonchalantly, “ I am 
learning the language from the signs; I find it an 
excellent way. I feel the need of sustenance this 
very minute after that sample luncheon. Will you 
come with me, you two? I will treat you to some 
chocolate, then we will go to the office, where I hope 
we may find some letters.” 

‘‘lam developing a craze for photographs,” Sidney 
announced a day or two later. “ I cannot pass by 
a shop where they are displayed without wanting 
to rush in and get some. We must all go to Ander- 
son’s some afternoon, and I will treat you each to a 
dozen.” 

“ Dear Sidney,” exclaimed Gabriella, “ I adore 
you when you say such things. And that reminds 
me. Gem, Sidney is developing a romance, or I am, 
I don’t know which it is. We were standing on the 
Palatine hill looking at the Italianness of a street 
down which two soldiers were slowly riding. A 
perfect riot of roses overhung the wall on one side, 


72 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


and one of the soldiers reached up to gather a rose, 
which he held in his hand as he rode along. Just 
as he was opposite us he looked up and kissed the 
rose — to me or Sidney? I don’t know which; 
I only know he had the most glorious eyes in the 
world and that he looked a picture. The strange 
thing about it is that I met Miss Bailey on the 
street afterward and as we stood there talking, who 
should step up but this same beautiful military 
person. I recognized him in a minute, and I almost 
think he recognized me. To marry an Italian 
and live forever in Italy, what bliss! On second 
thoughts, would it be ? At all events I am not likely 
to have the chance of trying the experiment, for all 
these Italians of good family are poor. Miss Bailey 
says, and are on the lookout for American heiresses. 
I forgot to ask Miss Bailey what had become of 
Taffy, I was so taken up with the sojer man.” 

Taffy? ” said Miss Cavendish inquiringly. 

‘‘Yes, the Welshman, you know. Mr. Owen 
Morgan.” 

“ Am I to continue to have these romances thrust 
upon me ? ” said Miss Cavendish. “ I ought to have 
taken that possibility into consideration. If you are 
to have decayed Italian noblemen and thieving 
Welshmen tagging us all over the country, what 
will become of us? ” 

“ Did you say thieving Welshmen, Gem? ” 

“ Yes, Taffy was a thief as well as a Welshman, 


ROMANCES 


73 


wasn’t he ? and if he attempts to steal either of my 
goddaughters he will hear my opinion of him.” 

“ Now, don’t get disgruntled, Gem dear; you are 
in quite as much danger as we are. I am not a 
heroine and Sid will not make the most of her 
opportunities. I am trying to persuade her to do 
her hair differently, and to discard that flippy-floppy 
blouse she wears. She could look stunning if she 
tried. She is the dearest thing in the world, but she 
has no more style than a well-worn rag-baby, and 
you know it is your own fault. Miss Sidney.” 

When we get to Paris we will put her in the hands 
of a first-class dressmaker and stand over her while 
she decides upon her costumes.” 

‘‘ That will be fun. You can hold yourself in 
readiness, miss.” 

I am afraid I shall have spent all my money by 
that time,” said Sidney; there are so many enticing 
things to buy.” 

Wait till you get to Florence and see the gold- 
smith shops,” Miss Cavendish warned her. Now, 
if you have nothing else on hand, this afternoon, 
girls, I propose we go to San Paolo fuori le muraP 

St. Paul without his gates,” said Gabriella 
flippantly. “ How shall we go, by tram, or shall we 
take a cab? ” 

Perhaps we would better go the democratic 
way by tram and save our cab hire for our drive on 
the Appian Way.” 


74 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


The Protestant cemeteiy is not far from San 
Paolo, is it?’’ said Sidney, looking up from the 
Baedeker she was poring over. ‘‘We might take 
that in, too. I’d like to lay a flower on the grave of 
Keats.” 

“Shelley’s grave is there, too, isn’t it?” asked 
Gabriella. 

“ Yes,” Sidney consulted her book, “ he is buried 
there, though his heart was sent to England. We 
shall find the graves of Trelawney and Constance 
Fennimore Woolson, too, as well as those friends of 
our childhood, Mary and William Howitt.” 

“ Come along then. If we have all those to look 
up we’d better be moving.” And Gabriella led the 
way. 

“ I think all the world must be possessed to visit 
St. Paul without the gates,” remarked Sidney a 
half hour later, when they tried vainly to gain a place 
in the crowded cars. 

“Shall we give it up?” said Miss Cavendish, 
looking discouraged. 

“ Never. There must be an end to this dreadful 
rush at some time,” said Gabriella. “ It cannot be 
eternal. Meantime I shall amuse myself by seeing 
just how cheaply I can buy some of those mosaics 
that are being so constantly thrust upon us. I have 
been waiting for exactly such an occasion when I 
should feel savage enough not to weaken when a 
dirty little urchin with glorious eyes should offer me 


ROMANCES 


75 


marvellous blue and rosy-posy pins for half a franc. 
I cannot resist them, when after I have shaken my 
head at them they say ‘ No-a,’ in that pathetic 
way. To-day I am judicial and shall select with 
calmness and — 

‘‘ There comes our car,’^ cried Sidney, making 
a rush. And the mosaic pins were left be- 
hind. 

The imposing ejffect of the vast dimensions and 
the costly materials of the church is best perceived 
from the west end of the nave,’’ read Miss Cavendish 
from her guide book; consequently we go to the 
west end of the nave. It is fine, very fine. I think 
I like it as well as any church in Rome.” 

It is very impressive,” murmured Sidney. 
‘‘ There is a good deal of color, too, not garish, but 
effective. I suppose it would be heresy to say that 
I consider St. Peter’s a bit garish. I like quiet 
simplicity better than feverish ornateness, don’t you, 
Gabriella? ” 

‘‘ Yes, I certainly do, and I like all this very much, 
though I specially want to see the cloisters; those 
I expect to charm me. I begin to feel very religious 
when I think that St. Peter and St. Paul had all 
sorts of doings around here. That little chapel 
just beyond the gate is where they parted on their 
last journey; over there in that direction is where 
St. Paul was executed, and here he was buried. He 
was a great and fearless person, though I always 


76 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

preferred St. Peter, myself; he was so delightfully 
human.’’ 

They say this was even a finer church before the 
fire of 1828,” said Sidney, viewing with interest the 
portrait medallions of the popes. What a number 
of those old fellows there have been. Dear me, I 
feel thankful for every morsel of Bible study I have 
ever had ; I only wish I had studied more.” 

It isn’t the Bible study for which I feel a cry- 
ing need,” confessed Gabriella, it is history and 
languages. Ah, here are the cloisters. Just look 
at those beautiful twisted columns; those mosaics. 
Now I am happy. You were right, Gem; it was 
well worth the trouble of getting here.” 

We might walk to the Protestant cemetery ; 
it’s not far, they tell me,” said Miss Cavendish as 
they issued from the church. The cars are so 
crowded, and if we need a cab we can take one after 
we leave the cemetery.” 

They started out valiantly, but stretch after stretch 
of road was covered and they seemed no nearer the 
cemetery than at first. Finally Sidney stopped short. 
‘‘ I cannot go another step,” she declared. “ Do 
let’s call a cab.” 

But, alas, no cab was in sight nor did any appear, 
and the weary pedestrians at last sat down by the 
roadside to rest. 

“ We may as well go on,” said Gabriella after a 
few moments spent in a contemplation of their sur- 


ROMANCES 


77 


roundings. “ We gain nothing by staying here, 
and, really, it cannot be very far now. When you 
are rested, Sidney, we will go on, and if an empty 
cab overtakes us we can hail it. What do you say 
to that plan? ’’ 

“ I agree,’’ returned Sidney, rising to her feet 
again. 

Just before the gate is reached a short side street 
on the left leads to the Protestant cemetery,” read 
Miss Cavendish. I think I have strength enough 
left to get there, for the gate is just ahead.” 

But Sidney succumbed again before they reached 
their destination. I positively cannot go on,” she 
declared. “ Leave me here, you two, and go explore 
for yourselves. I am not going to move from this 
spot till a cab comes along.” She sank down on a 
stone by the way and Miss Cavendish followed her 
example. It is exhausting,” she sighed. If I 
had known there were no cabs to be had in this 
direction and that it was so far I never would have 
come.” 

“ You all haven’t a bit of pluck,” said Gabriella, 
laughing. “ Here when we are within sight of the 
place, to say you won’t go on is ridiculous.” 

‘‘Yes, but though that may be the wall of the 
cemetery, who knows where the gate is? And even 
if that were close at hand, how many miles shall we 
have to walk before we find Keats’s grave? No, 
not for all the dead poets that ever lived will I drag 


78 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


myself further. I shall faint if I do, and will have 
to be buried where I lie, another victim for the 
Protestant cemetery.” 

That is all nonsense,” said Gabriella. At all 
events, I shall go and explore a little further.” She 
sauntered off up the street and presently they saw her 
applying her eye to a hole in the wall. Then she 
began to beckon violently. 

Miss Cavendish watched her with interest. “ She 
has discovered something,” she said. I think I 
must go and see what it is.” She started off to meet 
Gabriella, and Sidney obediently followed. 

“ It’s right here,” Gabriella announced as they 
came up. “You can see for yourselves. I peeped 
through that little hole in the wall and there was 
Keats’s grave directly before me. Wasn’t that 
remarkable? ” 

Encouraged to new effort by this discovery, the 
three set off for the gate, gained entrance and laid 
a memorial flower upon the graves of the two poets. 
“ I shall never forget them now; never,” said Sid- 
ney. “ I shall hold them in remembrance forever 
after this tramp. Please don’t walk me outside the 
gates again. Gem. If I must go, let it be in a cab, 
or any way but on foot.” 

“ It was a mistake,” said Miss Cavendish, “ and 
I will promise not to lead you astray again. I move 
we do not go back to dinner, but take the first cab 
that comes along, drive to the Pincian hill and watch 


ROMANCES 


79 


the crowds, and then go to a cafe and have 
dinner.” 

“ That will be lovely,” cried Gabriella, and you 
will pick out one of those dear little out-door places, 
won’t you? I do like them so much better than the 
stuffy, smelly in-door ones.” 

If we can find an attractive one, as I have no 
doubt we can.” 

In the course of time an empty cab came along 
and they were soon a part of the throng which 
crowded the Pincio. 

‘‘ There is Miss Bailey over there,” said Sidney, 
nudging Gabriella, who, with head held high, was 
looking persistently in another direction. 

‘‘ I know it.” 

‘‘ You saw her ? Why didn’t you tell us ? ” 

Didn’t want to.” 

Sidney gave her a glance of surprise, then turned 
her attention again to Miss Bailey. She was accom- 
panied by Signor, the count Rondinelli, and behind 
her walked Miss Mildred and Mr. Morgan. 

Sidney glanced back at Gabriella, whose head 
was still resolutely turned. It was at that moment 
that Miss Cavendish caught sight of her acquaint- 
ances and she stood up. Miss Bailey, looking that 
way, recognized her, and pushed her way through 
the throng to where they were sitting. “ My word 1 ” 
she exclaimed, fancy finding you here. When 
did you come? Isn’t there a crowd to-day? One 


80 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

can’t get on at all. Fancy my seeing you among so 
many.” 

It is a wonder that we saw you,” returned Miss 
Cavendish. ‘‘Sidney! Gabriella!” But Gabriella 
had fled. “Where is that perverse child?” Miss 
Cavendish asked Sidney. 

“ She wanted to walk up the road a little way. 
She said she would come back.” 

“ Perhaps she saw some one she knew,” remarked 
Miss Cavendish. Sidney turned the conversation, 
but out of the tail of her eye she espied Mr. Morgan 
followed by the count, both elbowing their way along 
in the direction Sidney had indicated. 

“ I sent the count for Miss Thorne,” said Miss 
Mildred, “ and Mr. Morgan must have thought I 
meant that he should go, too.” Her eyes followed 
the two, and Sidney smiled, for there was Gabriella 
with her two attendant cavaliers, utterly regardless 
of the havoc she might be playing in Miss Mildred’s 
virgin heart. This fluttering, girlish creature nearly 
twisted off her thirteen jewelled rings, drooped her 
shoulders more depressingly, and rattled her many 
chains with more abandon than ever as she stood 
talking to Sidney in nervous excitement, her eyes 
following the fast receding trio. At last she stood 
on tip-toe when the top of Mr. Morgan’s hat was the 
only object by which the three could be identified, 
then even that vanished, and Miss Mildred drew a 
sigh. 


ROMANCES 


81 


Miss Bailey turned around suddenly. It’s so 
curious ’’ — she pronounced it kyarrious — “ how in- 
dependent you Americans are/’ she remarked. 

Now I should never think of allowing Mildred to 
leave my side in a place like this.” 

“ Really? ” said Miss Cavendish. “ But Gabriella 
is not alone, and she permits me to leave her side, 
so why should I not accord her the same privilege? ” 
Miss Bailey looked at her with vague distrust. 
Was this American chaffing, or did Miss Cavendish 
really not appreciate the situation? As the years of 
the younger Miss Bailey outnumbered those of 
Miss Cavendish by half a decade, it may be supposed 
that Miss Cavendish did not appreciate the situation. 


y 


! 


CHAPTER VI 

ROSES 

“ Rome is so big, so impossible to get acquainted 
with in less than years of time, that I think we would 
do as well to go on,” said Miss Cavendish at the 
end of two weeks spent in assiduous sight-seeing. 

Especially as we have not a good pension^ and 
as the town is so crowded,” put in Sidney. 

“ Oh, for dear Sorrento ! all that deliciousness for 
six francs a day, wine and lights included,” sighed 
Gabriella for the tenth time since she had arrived 
in Rome. 

‘‘ I think we will see then what Florence can 
afford us. I have written to two or three places there 
for rooms and have just received some very satis- 
factory replies. We really are not any too happy 
here,” said Miss Cavendish. 

“ And we have worked, yes, really worked, harder 
than anywhere else. In two weeks we have tried 
to see what we could never master in less than ten 
years. I am tired,” replied Sidney. 

“ Then we will go on, if you and Gabriella agree.” 

Gabriella did agree, and declared that she was 
yearning for the Ufiizi and the Pitti galleries. There- 
82 


ROSES 


83 


fore they shook the dust of Rome from off their 
feet and were borne along in a crowded train toward 
the city of Dante. 

“Tea will be served immediately/’ said the little 
maid who showed them to their rooms when they 
had reached their pension, 

“Tea?” exclaimed Gabriella as the maid de- 
parted. “ This certainly promises better than Rome. 
Oh, Gem, we can afford to stay here for a long time : 
rooms that overlook the Arno, tea and — ” 

“ Wine and lights included,” laughed Sidney. 

“Yes, actually, and all for five francs a day. I 
don’t see how they do it. I hope they will not starve 
us as they did at the last place.” 

“ My dear,” said Miss Cavendish, “ I have learned 
one thing: when you want home comforts abroad, 
don’t go to a boarding-house kept by one of your 
ovm countrywomen, especially if she be a mis- 
sionary.” 

The girls’ spirits rose as time went on, for not only 
were their rooms exceedingly comfortable, but they 
found the fare excellent. To be sure the house was 
old and dingy, and it was not of spotless cleanliness. 
“ But for Italy, well, we might go much further and 
fare worse,” remarked Gabriella. 

“ One could go as far as America and not begin 
to have all this,” declared Miss Cavendish, whose 
experience of American boarding-houses was not 
limited. “ I do not know where at home we could 


84 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


find good beds, cheerful, prompt and skilled attend- 
ance, delicious food, fresh flowers on the table every 
day, a hostess anxious to please, all for a dollar a day.’’ 

“ Wine and — ” began Gabriella mechanically. 
And then they all laughed. 

The days went by all too rapidly, and a week 
passed before they knew it. I could hang out this 
window all day,” remarked Gabriella, after Sidney 
had called her two or three times on Sunday morning. 

There is so much to see along this river front. I 
have been watching a gentleman spruce himself up 
for Sunday. He has taken off his shirt, washed it 
in the Arno, and you may see it there spread out on 
the steps in the sunshine while he sits complacently 
in his coat waiting for it to dry. Isn’t that the simple 
life exemplified? Yesterday I beheld a scene worthy 
of a French novel. Two washerwomen took to 
fisticuffs and dragged each other over the face of the 
earth by the hair of the head. It was dreadful, and 
yet I had to watch to see whether the big or the little 
one came off victor.” 

And which did? ” 

Neither, for two men separated them, but there 
were Vesuvius-like mutterings all day, and doubtless 
by this time one or the other is badly done up. The 
Italians are so impulsive, you know.” 

That’s a mild word for such a performance,” 
said Sidney. “ Come, do hurry, Gabriella, we want 
to go to the Cathedral.” 


ROSES 


85 


It was at the Uffizi that they ran across the Bailey 
party again. They were standing before a Titian, 
Baedekers in hand, looking at the picture with a 
half interest. 

“ Miss Mildred still wears her chain bracelet,’’ 
whispered Gabriella. 

“Yes, and she has a new chain ; that makes three 
that she is wearing. I suppose the last is one that 
she has bought here,” returned Sidney. 

“ I wonder of what the chain bracelet is the 
symbol,” said Gabriella. “ Every English woman 
we have seen has worn one. I should really like to 
know the why of it.” 

“ There is Mr. Morgan with his friend, the Ger- 
man,” exclaimed Sidney. “ Shall we discover them 
or let them discover us? ” 

“ We can move along a little and let them be the 
discoverers,” said Gabriella; “it will be more 
dignified.” But as she spoke Miss Cavendish had 
recognized the others and in a few minutes the 
two parties had become one. 

At the end of half an hour Gabriella found herself 
with Mr. Morgan, separated from the rest. “ Dear 
me, where are they? ” she exclaimed, looking around 
in dismay. 

“ They can’t be very far,” Mr. Morgan assured 
her. “ It’s jolly easy to lose one’s way in a place 
like this. We’ll meet them at some convenient point, 
no doubt.” 


86 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


And if we don’t I am so near home that it makes 
little difference,” said Gabriella, resolving not to 
trouble herself. This place is such a joy; in fact, 
Florence is all a joy.” 

“ It’s rather a nice old place,” said Mr. Morgan. 

Oh, dear, why can’t you English be more 
enthusiastic? ” exclaimed the girl. “ You never rise 
to superlatives unless you use horrid words like 
beastly and rotten, and even then you don’t rise, 
you sink.” 

Mr. Morgan laughed. And you Americans are 
so very enthusiastic. You rave over such remarkable 
things.” 

Who wouldn’t rave over that Botticelli, for 
example? I suppose you would say that is not a 
superlatively fine picture.” 

“ No doubt it is for those who care for Botticelli.” 

“ And you don’t? ” 

‘‘ I care for others more, though I do see some 
things to admire in his work.” 

Then let us go on. I will not stand here with 
such an unenthusiastic person. I will come back 
when I can gloat over this by myself. I want to be 
with some one who can rave or with no one at all, 
when I look at a picture like that. If there happens 
to be anything in this collection which appeals to 
your fieriest ardor, lead me to it.” 

Her companion laughed and sauntered leisurely 
on, Gabriella following. At last he paused before 


ROSES 


87 


a madonna of Andrea del Sartors. “ Is this it? ” 
asked Gabriella. 

Do you like it? ’’ 

“ Ye-es. Please let me hear you rave/’ 

‘‘ I did not promise to.” 

“ You are trying to fool me. I am sure this does 
not appeal to you more than anything in the gallery.” 

No, but I like it. Don’t you? ” 

I do, but I always see del Sarto’s horrid little 
wife in all his Madonnas. They all have that dis- 
contented expression, and they make me mad. I 
always think of Browning’s poem on poor Andrea. 
Oh, you little beast ! ” She shook her fist at the 
picture to the horror of a group of Italians standing 
near. Seeing their shocked looks, Gabriella laughed. 

They think I am somebody dreadful ; an anarchist, 
no doubt, or a lunatic, at the very least. I forgot 
what the picture represented; I was thinking only 
of the model. Now show me something that you 
really do admire.” 

Here is something; Raphael’s portrait of Pope 
Julius II.” 

Do you admire it because Baedeker gives four 
and a quarter lines to it? ” Gabriella asked saucily. 

No, because it is rather a good thing. You have 
seen the Madonna della Sedia, of course. You must 
admit that it is beautiful.” 

It is much more beautiful than I expected to 
find it, for when poor reproductions of an exquisite 


88 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


thing are scattered broadcast over the earth, it is 
hard to see the beauty when you come face to face 
with the original. I sometimes wonder if after all 
it isn’t a mistake to familiarize the masses with the 
beautiful through such means.” 

I think it is well, if it is not overdone.” 

‘‘ And the tendency is to overdo. Santa Claus, 
even, is no longer a mystery when every cheap John 
shop has a mock figure of the saint in the shop 
window, performing tricks for a gaping crowd, and 
he is even reduced to the base purpose of advertising 
some quack medicine as he stands on the corner and 
gives out hand-bills. That is one thing I like about 
Italy; it still retains some of the old illusions. We 
are fast out-growing them at home.” 

Mr. Morgan looked down at the girl with an 
amused expression. “For a young person of your 
tender years, that sounds rather blase, and from you 
who adore enthusiasm, too.” 

“ That’s just it ; I love enthusiasm. I don’t want 
to outgrow my dear illusions, and I do not want to 
be compelled to use the modem process of dissecting 
everything. I would rather not tear the veil from the 
mysteries. Let the children of this world make their 
discoveries for themselves.” 

“ Here is something that’s not half bad,” said 
Mr. Morgan, stopping before a fine portrait. 

“ You like Titian, don’t you? ” 

“ Well, rather.” 


ROSES 


89 


At this moment Sidney came upon them from a 
side gallery. Oh, here you are,^’ she said. We 
are ready to go, Gabriella. Miss Bailey is coming 
with us. She wants to try a meal at our pension. 
She is nothing if not enterprising in adding to her 
addresses. She has just given Gem six for Venice, 
and grateful Gem has asked her to lunch, or is it 
breakfast we have at this hour? ” 

‘‘ Where are you all? ’’ Gabriella asked. 

In the Tribuna waiting for you. Hasn^t it been 
a perfectly delightful morning? Have you and Mr. 
Morgan seen everything? ” 

We have seen several things. No one could see 
everything here in one short morning,’^ returned 
Gabriella. I hope I am not the kind of American 
who rushes about Baedeker-possessed, and only 
looks at the things he stars. I have the greatest 
respect and affection for my Baedeker, but I do like 
to observe with some sort of originality. I saw several 
rushers this morning. Do you remember the one 
on the steamer that we called the Microbe? She 
was here.’’ 

Sidney cast an amused look at the young man 
standing by, who looked unmistakably puzzled. I 
remember,” she replied. 

‘‘ I asked her if she had seen a delicious little thing 
in one of the rooms, and she rustled over the leaves 
of her guide-book and said : ‘ Baedeker hasn’t 

starred it; I don’t believe I have looked at it.’ 


90 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘ He hasn’t even mentioned it,’ I said, and she looked 
at me as if I were some sort of queer specimen. I 
suppose she wondered at my daring to form an 
unauthorized opinion. Isn’t it a blessing to have a 
mind of your own? ” 

Mr. Morgan laughed. You certainly have. 
Is that Miss Mildred over there buying photo- 
graphs? ” 

“ I wonder if she is buying another Madonna,” 
said Sidney. She has bought three already, none 
of which is the special one she is looking for.” 

Why does she buy them, then? ” asked Gabri- 

ella. 

Sidney laughed. “ I don’t know. She discovers 
only too late that what she has just bought is not 
her favorite.” 

Well, I never,” remarked Gabriella, reserving 
further comment till she should be alone with her 
friends. 

Miss Bailey now saw them and came fluttering up, 
her sister following. The latter was all filmy veil 
and dangling chains with clinking ornaments. Her 
manner was that of a belle of the last century, for 
she dipped and tripped and undulated to the last 
degree. Evidently she considered Mr. Morgan her 
especial cavalier, for she chid him for so long deserting 
her, tapping him playfully with her fan. Miss 
Cavendish here joined them and all took their way 
to the street. 


ROSES 


91 


“ And where is Herr Muller? ’’ Mr. Morgan asked 
Sidney. 

He has gone back to his hotel/’ was the 
answer. 

‘‘ He though you were lost, naughty boy,” said 
Miss Mildred, catching the remark, ‘‘ and he went 
to find you.” 

Mr. Morgan made no reply, but a few minutes 
later, when he and Gabriella fell a little behind the 
others, he said : “ Let us give them the slip this 
afternoon, and go to the rose gardens of San 
Miniato.” 

“ Oh, I can’t,” returned Gabriella, after a 
moment’s hesitation, I’ve promised to go haunt 
the goldsmith’s shops with Sidney.” 

The ones on the Ponte Vecchio? ” 

“Yes; and we are anxious to see Casa Guidi 
windows.” 

“ You will be disappointed in them, but you will 
not be disappointed in the Boboli gardens, if you 
are going there. I may be on that side the river 
myself, this afternoon.” 

“ I thought you were going to San Miniato.” 

“ Not by myself.” 

“ There is Herr Muller.” 

“ Yes, but one wants to see roses under special 
conditions. You remember how you feel about the 
Botticellis ; grant me the grace of feeling so about 
roses.” 


92 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


But Herr Muller would surely say wunderschoen 
often enough to please you/’ 

“ He might, but I don’t want any but English 
enthusiasm.” 

“ I am sorry American is not sufficient for you, 
but there is Miss Mildred,” said Gabriella wickedly. 

Mr. Morgan’s face immediately became imper- 
turbable, and Gabriella felt a little ashamed of her 
small fling at the older woman. She relieved her 
confusion by exclaiming, Oh, see those lovely 
saffron roses that man has. They remind me of 
Sorrento. I must get some for Gem. Think of it ! 
only twenty centimes, four cents.” She buried her 
face in the flowers, exclaiming: You beauties, how 
I adore you ! ” 

I knew you loved flowers,” said Mr. Morgan, 
“ and that is why I want you to go to San Miniato 
with me.” 

I will go to-morrow,” said Gabriella hastily, 
turning aside to give the roses into Miss Cavendish’s 
hands. 

The glory of an Italian spring lay over the gardens 
of San Miniato. Thousands of roses gave a respon- 
sive loveliness to the favors of sun and soft air. 
Gabriella, who had felt a little guilty at leaving her 
comrades out of her plans, and who had wondered 
if it were quite the proper thing to make this excursion 
with so recent an acquaintance, lost all sense of 
discomfort when she saw the loveliness before her. 


ROSES 


93 


Ah/’ she sighed, it was worth coming to see. 
It is Eden before the fall. It is all the romance of 
Italy, all the sunniness concentrated in the hearts 
of these roses.” 

Her companion smiled. “ I knew you would 
express the poetry I can only feel.” 

And there are so many of them,” Gabriella 
went on. I never could have believed it. Isn’t 
it lovely to be up here and to look down on the 
historic city? The Medicis, Dante, Savonarola, 
Romola, the Brownings, how they all come to one’s 
mind.” 

‘‘ But don’t you know,” said her companion, “ a 
simple Welshman of the engineering profession can- 
not follow you in these flights. I only feel the poetry 
of the roses, and I only see the Florence of to-day 
enveloped in a haze at my feet.” 

‘‘ Oh, but surely, surely you have read Romola 
and some of Browning at least.” Gabriella was 
vaguely disappointed. 

‘‘ I am sorry to confess that I have not read 
Romola, and of Browning I am scared.” 

‘‘ You mustn’t be, and you must read Romola.” 

I will at once. I will stop on my way back and 
get a copy, and you shall pick it out for me, if you 
will.” 

‘‘ That is better. I begin to have hopes of you. 
Before we leave Florence I may be able to set your 
feet in the right way.” 


94 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


And when do you leave Florence ? ’’ 

In a few days, I am afraid. There are some of 
the churches we have yet to see, and we have not 
been to Fiesole. To me Florence is almost, if not 
quite, as inexhaustible as Rome, and in many 
respects is more fascinating. Have you happened 
to see a funeral at night? It is the most impressive 
thing you can imagine. It is much more so than 
at Naples, where they carry an empty cofhn and 
make a great to-do, but all in the glaring light of 
day. But we must be leaving this kingdom of 
Rosedom, for it is time to be getting back.” Her 
companion, however, lingered, and finally, under 
protest, filled her arms with roses and they returned 
to the city. 

Late to luncheon again,” said Miss Cavendish, 
as the girl came in. “ We were just going down. 
What beautiful roses, and what a mass of them. 
Have you been squandering your substance in that 
kind of riotous living? ” 

‘‘No,” replied Gabriella, depositing her burden 
in the water pitcher, “ they were given to me.” 

“ Take care,” warned Sidney. “ Roses will be 
your destruction yet. Remember the rose of Rome.” 

“ ‘ Ah, but where blooms the rose of yesterday? ’ ” 
quoted Gabriella. “ Who cares for the roses of Rome 
when one can have the roses of Florence? ” 

“ And have you been mooning all morning over 
there at San Miniato? ” Sidney asked. 


ROSES 


95 


No, we have been sunning,” answered Gabriella, 
flippantly. 

‘‘What do you know of that Mr. Morgan?” 
asked Miss Cavendish in her most judicial tone. 

“ Let me see, what do I know?” returned Gabriella 
speculatively. “He is from some utterly unpro- 
nounceable place in Wales, but he was educated in 
England. He is a civil engineer, very civil, I should 
call him. His father was a clergyman, but he is no 
longer in the land of the living, and his mother died 
recently. The unpronounceable place he still calls 
home, but Owen ap Owen goes where his pro- 
fession leads him. Just now he is off for a short 
holiday, having come here from Germany with the 
Misses Bailey, who were great friends of his mother’s. 
They were very kind to her once when she was ill 
away from home, nursed her as if they had been 
sisters, and have been devoted friends to her at other 
times, hence the young man’s sweet acceptance of 
Miss Mildred’s attentions. He didn’t tell me that 
last, but I draw my own conclusions, and gather 
that there is no harm in her little dabs and dips. I 
believe that is all I can report at this present time, 
but given the opportunity, I have no doubt I can 
satisfy any amount of curiosity on the subject.” 

“ Gabriella, Gabriella,” was all Miss Cavendish 
vouchsafed in reply as she led the way down to 
luncheon. 


CHAPTER VII 


“ IN A GONDOLA ” 

The consequence of the morning’s adventure was 
that Miss Cavendish hurried away from Florence be- 
fore these dangerous meetings should be repeated, and 
although Gabriella would like to have protested she 
confided to Sidney that she had not the face to do so. 

‘‘ I have no business to give Gem frights when she 
is doing all this for me. It is very hard for me to 
behave myself with your perfect decorum, Sid, and 
though I was having a lovely time with Taffy, I 
could not say a word, for Gem feels responsible 
to mamma for me.” This was whispered confiden- 
tially during the journey while Miss Cavendish was 
absorbed in her Baedeker. 

Venice was reached in the evening. Miss Caven- 
dish had written ahead for rooms, and they stepped 
into the gondola they had selected, with pleasant 
anticipation of looking out from their windows, that 
night, directly upon the Grand Canal. 

‘‘Isn’t it perfectly delicious?” said Sidney. 
“ Don’t you feel as if you were in a dream? We 
are actually in a gondola, Gabriella, and we are in 
Venice.” 


96 


^‘IN A GONDOLA’^ 


97 


‘‘ Don’t speak to me,” said the girl; ‘‘ you might 
wake me up. I am perfectly happy, and I want to 
do this for the rest of my life. Oh, how queer it is 
to go threading our way along these narrow little 
waterways. Ah-h, this must be the Grand Canal, 
and here are the palaces, and oh, the color and the 
wonder of it all. You have given the gondolier our 
address. Gem? ” 

‘‘Yes, and I think we shall find we have a good 
situation.” 

The gondola drew up by the side of a tall gloomy 
building which Miss Cavendish remarked, must have 
been at one time a palace. 

“ And to what base uses has it come; harboring 
American tourists,” said Gabriella. “ What ho, 
there ! Do you see anyone about. Gem? ” 

All was silent and unresponsive, but at last, after 
repeated summons, the proprietor appeared. He 
spoke French readily. He was grieved to assure the 
ladies that not a room in his establishment was un- 
occupied. 

“But I wrote ahead,” explained Miss Cavendish. 

“ But madame, the letter was never received.” 

“ I don’t believe a word of it,” said Miss Caven- 
dish as they pushed away. “ He had my first letter 
all right, for he answered that. He probably had a 
chance of renting his rooms before we arrived and 
would not miss the opportunity of making a little 
extra money. Fortunately it is not the only place.” 


98 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


She gave the gondolier another address, and the 
gondola slipped along through the green waters 
until another halt was made. 

“ No room ” was the report brought to them. 

‘‘ Never mind ; we do not need to be discouraged ; 
I have six addresses here,’^ Miss Cavendish assured 
the girls, ‘‘ and we shall have more of this delightful 
way of getting about.” 

But Venice, like Rome, was overcrowded, and 
each time they were turned away they became a 
little more anxious till Miss Cavendish, at the end 
of her addresses, turned to the gondolier appealingly. 
It was growing darker and darker. The tall 
palaces loomed up each side, gloomy and silent. 
Lights from the large hotels flashed out upon the 
water. Black gondolas glided by, dusky, shadowy 
forms. 

I feel as if this were the river Styx and Charon 
were at the prow,” whispered Gabriella. 

Sidney, subdued and troubled, turned to Miss 
Cavendish. ‘‘ Do let us go to one of the larger hotels 
just for the night,” she begged. 

We shall have to, if no other place can be found,” 
was the answer. I told our gondolier that we should 
have to sleep in the gondola unless he could get us 
lodgings, and he assured me that we need give our- 
selves no anxiety; he would find something.” 

But place after place was left behind, and the 
gondolier, himself, became eager to settle his passen- 


‘‘IN A GONDOLA” 


99 


gers. He was a pleasant young fellow, graceful and 
picturesque. He knew a little French and ventured 
a remark now and then, smiling at the worried 
ladies and bidding them take courage, he, Antonio, 
would not leave them tiU they were housed. There 
were rooms in abundance, but it took time to go from 
one house to another. 

At last they turned from the Grand Canal into 
the broader Giudecca. Antonio ran lightly up the 
steps of his first stopping-place and in a few minutes 
returned, snatched up the luggage, and bade the 
ladies to follow him. Up the walk, of a tiny garden 
their guide preceded them. A woman with a candle 
appeared at the door. She led the way up-stairs to 
a dingy room which seemed in every way unattract- 
ive. 

Miss Cavendish turned helplessly to the girls. 
“ I don’t know about this,” she said. “ I am a little 
afraid. It seems queer and out of the way and — ■ 
Are you sure it is safe, good, well?” she asked 
Antonio. He responded emphatically that it was all 
things that it should be. He had discovered them 
lodgings, and evidently considered that he had done 
his duty. Miss Cavendish felt herself disarmed. 

She meekly thanked him, paid him, and let him go. 
Then she turned to their hostess. Not one word did 
she speak of any language but Italian. But she was 
quick to understand that they wished another room, 
and led them to what appeared to Miss Cavendish 


100 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


as the very dingiest and most unattractive of little 
rooms at the back of the very small house. It seemed 
ill-smelling, and by the light of the one candle it 
looked bare of comforts. 

It will never do in the world,” decided Miss 
Cavendish. “ I cannot let either of you girls sleep 
there ; it is away off from the other room, and I am 
not willing to be separated from you.” 

It seems almost as if it might be the haunt of 
bandits, doesn’t it? ” whispered Gabriella, her eyes 
big with anxiety. “ Don’t let us stay here. Gem. 
I am afraid we shall all be murdered in our beds by 
morning.” 

They returned to the front room, and Miss Caven- 
dish viewed the possibilities. “ If a bed were put up 
in this hallway, or whatever it is, opening out of this 
room, we could all be together, and if we locked all 
the doors, you see there is one at each end of the 
passageway, I think we could feel safe.” She made 
known her desires to the padrmtay who, anxious to 
please, agreed to everything. A bed was set up in the 
little hallway ; it was further furnished with a wash- 
stand and chair, and the tired travellers took pos- 
session, though it is safe to say that no one slept 
much, although the beds were comfortable, and they 
were undisturbed except by their own fears. 

The next morning disclosed to their view a broad 
canal upon whose waters lay many ships, a stretch of 
land beyond showed domes and spires glittering in 


‘‘IN A GONDOLA’’ 


101 


the sunlight, and above all was the bluest of skies. 
Below the window appeared a small garden where 
a woman, with a baby by her side, was gathering 
flowers. Miss Cavendish smiled at her fears. What 
had appeared at night to be ill-conditioned and for- 
bidding, by daylight proved to be only unpretentious 
simplicity. The little house was old, the furniture 
dingy, but everything was very clean and the mother’s 
voice as she talked to the child had a caressing softness 
that dissipated Miss Cavendish’s last fears. 

“ Get up, get up, girls,” she cried. “ We are not 
in the house of a bandit, but in the simple home of 
poor, but kindly people. There are flowers in the 
garden and a dear little prattling baby. I saw his 
mother’s face and I know she couldn’t do us harm.” 

Here the padrona came in with aqua calde. She 
was very solicitous for the welfare of her guests. 
She gathered up skirts and shoes, returning with 
them well brushed. A little later she brought the 
breakfast tray; flowers adorned it, the linen was 
spotless, the coffee fragrant and well made, the butter 
fresh and sweet, the bread tender and delicious. 
Never was a more willing, devoted, anxious hostess. 
The three, whose alarms had kept them awake half 
the night, smiled at each other shamefacedly. And 
when at noon, a table was set for them out of doors 
under the vines, and such a dainty meal was served 
as they had seldom tasted, they concluded that 
Antonio was wiser than they. 


102 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


And we thought that dear, good little padrona 
with her big brown eyes and her wistful smile was 
a robber witch,” said Gabriella. 

‘‘ And we were going to look for other quarters 
the first thing in the morning,” said Sidney. “ I 
vote we stay.” 

‘^Stay? Why of course we’ll stay,” said Miss 
Cavendish, for I have learned from that nice 
looking English woman with whom I was talking, 
when you came down, that our host has been 
cook to a prince, that he is one of the best in all 
Venice, that he has lost his savings by a bad invest- 
ment and that he has begun life again in this small 
way, hoping to retrieve his fortunes. He is honest 
as the day, though very poor. I couldn’t have the 
heart to leave even if we were less comfort- 
able.” 

And indeed, as the days passed, they were more and 
more convinced that they had fallen on their feet, 
for never were more delicious meals served a party 
of appreciative females; never was more devoted 
service, never more real kindliness exhibited. 

“ I simply love the padrona^'^^ said Gabriella. 
“ I shall hate to leave her. She has so much sweet- 
ness and modesty, with a certain dignity which makes 
her gratitude to us pathetic.” 

And how delightfully quiet and away from 
crowds it is here,” commented Sidney. “ I shall 
hate to leave this homelike little place. I like it 


^‘IN A GONDOLA’’ 


103 


much better than on the Grand Canal. We have our 
sky and garden if we are not in a palace.” 

“ And goodness knows, it is cheap enough,” put 
in Miss Cavendish. 

‘‘ And there are no porters and waiters and maids 
to catch the unwary,” said Gabriella. The dear 
little padrona is the only one who serves. It makes 
us wonderfully free, doesn’t it? ” 

I feel as if I were one of the people,” said Sidney. 

All I want is a black shawl. I have already begun 
to imitate the arrangement of hair practised by the 
Venetian women. I hope you notice it.” 

“ I do,” Gabriella told her, “ and I congratulate 
you upon the change. Do get the shawl, Sid; it 
would be so funny to see you parade it at home in all 
its funereal simplicity.” 

“ I’ll get it to-day. Why is it, I wonder, that black 
gondolas and black shawls seem charming in Venice 
when anywhere else they would be too depressing 
for words.” 

“It is because they are the accent in this riot of 
color. Everything here in Venice is in such a high 
key, that the touches of black are a relief rather than 
the opposite,” said Gabriella, who was quick to per- 
ceive and analyze effects. 

“ When our hungry souls have been sufficiently 
fed on the glories of San Marco and when we have 
gone again to the little bead shop on the San Moise ; 
when we have seen the Santa Barbara and have 


104 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


taken another trip to the Lido, I suppose you girls 
will be ready to go on,” said Miss Cavendish. 

“ I shall never be ready to go on,” responded 
Gabriella. We have hardly stopped in a place 
where I have not longed to linger for months. I am 
yet sighing for Sorrento while I adore Venice, and I 
pine for Florence while I have not had half enough 
of Rome. I want to go to San Marco at least a 
hundred times more, and I shall never get all the 
beads I want till I buy out the entire shop. Then 
there are the lace factories and the glass works to see ; 
though I think we would better leave you at home. 
Gem, when we go to see the laces ; you have nearly 
ruined yourself buying them as it is.” 

I think I have spent more in laces than Gem,” 
put in Sidney. 

^‘One doesn’t have such a chance every-day,” 
Miss Cavendish returned apologetically, ‘‘ and it is 
so hard to resist beautiful lace. You know I bought 
very little jewelry in Florence, while you girls were 
actually spendthrifty.” 

‘‘ We must have one more night in a gondola,” 
said Sidney ; it would never do to go away feeling 
that we might have had that pleasure and deliberately 
set it aside. No, Gem, we must stay a little longer. 
We may never find a place where we can be so 
delightfully free. Nobody knows us and we know 
no one; it is very lucky that it has happened so. 
We are sufficient for each other. We don’t have to 


^‘IN A GONDOLA’^ 


105 


bother about our goings and comings, our toilets, or, 
in fact, any of the usual conventionalities. We can 
sit on the steps of Santa Maria della Salute, and watch 
the gondolas and the sky and all the rest of it, with 
the working class, and nobody cares ; or we can gather 
around our little table under the vines and discuss 
personalities with no one to comment. Oh, it suits 
me down to dots.’’ 

‘‘ A gondola and moonlight,” murmured Gabri- 
ella, “ does suggest other than female companion- 
ship.” 

You are thinking of roses and San Miniato,” 
Sidney declared. “ I prophesy that your culmina- 
ting romance must be connected with a rose. By 
the way, what has become of our military friend? 
Wasn’t he coming here? Have we been so happy as 
to escape him? ” 

I hope so,” returned Gabriella. “ We certainly 
saw enough of him in Rome. It seemed to me that 
we never turned a corner but his blue cloak was in 
evidence.” 

“ Who shall say that all girls are daffy over uni- 
forms? ” exclaimed Sidney. Though I am sorry 
he can’t be here to make a romance for the gondola, 
since you require the masculine element. Gem and 
I can get along without it, and to-night we shall be 
happy while you will feel an aloofness because of an 
unfilled want.” 

You don’t suppose I am such a lunatic as not to 


106 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


get as much pleasure out of such a trip as you,” 
exclaimed Gabriella. Am I to be accused of being 
blase at this late hour? I, who have simply sim- 
mered and bubbled and boiled over with enthusiasm 
all the way? ” 

Sidney laughed. She had succeeded by her sly 
effort in arousing Gabriella’s indignation, and was 
satisfied. 

Nevertheless the moonlight ride was not predes- 
tined to be lacking the masculine element, for, as 
the three were standing on the quay by the Acca- 
demia, who should step up to them with a joyous 
exclamation, but Signor Rondinelli, who, with his 
blue cloak thrown gracefully over his shoulders, 
looked extremely picturesque, so much so that 
Gabriella, with true artistic insight, decided that he 
made a most fitting accompaniment to the evening’s 
entertainment. He was eager in his polite attention, 
as if, having come up to the “ fleeting joy,” he did not 
intend letting it escape him again. As the gondola 
drifted out upon the silent waters, glistening undula- 
ting ribbons of light were thrown waveringly from 
the windows of the palaces across the canal, slipping 
down from the golden brown of Gabriella’s hair to 
the shining beads around her neck, and then gliding 
off into the water. Miss Cavendish and Sidney spoke 
seldom, preferring the dreamlike quiet, but the steady 
murmur of low-voiced conversation came from the 
other two. Once in a while Gabriella’s light joyous 



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“IN A GONDOLA’’ 


107 


laughter chimed out upon the night. From other 
gondolas came strains of music; the tinkle of a 
mandolin, a man’s mellow baritone in some gondo- 
lied; a woman’s soprano piercingly sweet in a pa- 
thetic love-song. At intervals the weird warning cry 
of the gondoliers added to the effect, and when at last 
they drew near their landing place, even Gabriella 
had hushed her chatter. 

It was but a few steps to their lodgings and the girl 
peremptorily dismissed her cavalier at the steps of 
the quay. She watched the gondola glide away, 
then turned with a half sigh. “He is a dream in 
that blue cloak,” she said. “ If every night were 
moonlight and if one might forever drift in a gondola 
it might do, but alas, there would be the gondolier 
to pay, and who would do it? ” 

“Why these enigmas, Gabriella?” asked Miss 
Cavendish. 

She laughed a little amused laugh, in which there 
was a tinge of regret, too. “ Only because Signor 
Rondinelli has made the mistake of thinking I was 
that boon to the impecunious nobility, an American 
heiress. He actually thought it was I and not Sidney 
who carried bags of ducats around with me, and — 
and — ” 

“And — what? There is an interesting empha- 
sis on that conjunctive,” said Miss Cavendish. 

“ I was obliged to disabuse him of his impression, 
when he came to making love too violently. I can 


108 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


assure you I rather enjoyed the unwonted position 
until he offered me his hand and his honored name. 
So, Sidney, be on your guard ; he will probably turn 
his attentions to you.’’ 

You didn’t tell him that I was an heiress,” said 
Sidney in dismay. 

No, but some one has told him that one of us is. 
Perhaps he thinks it is Gem. You’d better have a 
care, Isabella Cavendish, or you will yet occupy an 
Italian villa and possess beautiful old furniture and 
pictures, and perhaps all the Venetian point you can 
wear.” 

Not until I can buy it with my own hard money. 
Certainly not if an impecunious nobleman goes with 
the other goods and chattels.” 

Like a statement I saw once, where a man re- 
turning to Europe after a long residence in America, 
was said to have taken all his household goods, in- 
cluding the body of his mother,” remarked Sidney. 

This took them laughing into the house, to be met 
by the little padrona, candle in hand to light them to 
their rooms. 

But the influence of the night still lay upon Ga- 
briella, and after she was ready for bed, she leaned 
from the window, her hands clasped, as she rested 
her arms upon the balcony rail. “ And to-morrow 
we leave,” she said, as she felt Miss Cavendish’s 
presence at her side. Must we go. Gem ? How 
can I leave Italy thinking that I may never, never 


A GONDOLA” 


109 


come back again ? It hurts ; it really hurts. I didn’t 
suppose I could feel so about anything less than a 
creature, an individual of humankind, but Italy does 
not seem a country ; it seems a goddess upon whose 
breast we lie while she whispers tales of mystery and 
romance. She speaks in her pictures, her sky, her 
lovely land, her childlike people. She is something 
more than a place on a map. Don’t you feel so? ” 

‘‘ Yes,” sighed Miss Cavendish. ‘‘ I, too, go with 
reluctant steps, for I have found the land of youth 
renewed and dreams fulfilled.” 


CHAPTER VIII 


FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN 

“ All of Italy that remains for us is to be com- 
pressed into the next two or three days,’’ said Sidney 
regretfully, as she watched the last red sail fade from 
sight upon the lagoons of Venice. “ Oh that those 
days were limitless and that we could recover that lost 
power of the ancients who counted their years by 
centuries. If one might live to be as old as Me- 
thuselah, for example, it would be nothing to spend 
a hundred years in Italy. I almost believe I love 
Venice the best of all. How about you, Gabriella? ” 
‘‘ I am not sure. I think Sorrento comes first with 
me, and then Florence, though it is hard to decide. 
I think I love it all from the top of the boot to the 
toe, and would be satisfied to live anywhere in it 
between Switzerland and Sicily. How do you suppose 
Signor Rondinelli became possessed of the idea that 
I represented the wealth of the party? ” she asked 
suddenly. 

Miss Bailey must have told him so,” replied 
Miss Cavendish. She evidently discovered that 
one of us is not a pauper, and was under the impres- 
sion that it was you.” 


110 


FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN 111 


Oh ! ’’ returned Gabriella, and lapsed into 
silence. 

I think it would be good fun if you would keep 
up that impression/’ said Sidney, after a pause. 

Think what numbers of romances you might have. 
Your personality plus gold would attract the heiress 
seekers as sugar does a swarm of ants.” 

But where would your innings be ? ” questioned 
Gabriella. 

I don’t want them. I couldn’t cope with those 
brilliant and beautiful soldiers if I had the oppor- 
tunity. I think it would be much better to allow 
me the retirement my looks afford, and let you go 
forth to battle with the fortune hunters. I was ever 
‘ a violet by a mossy stone ’ you know. I hope you 
did not tell the count that you refused him because 
you were not able to fill his coffers.” 

‘‘ No, I must confess that I did not. I felt at the 
time that it was rather mean of me to keep on sailing 
under false colors, but now I am glad I did. I do 
believe, Sid, that it would be fun to change places. 
I should not in the least mind carrying out the plan, 
and should like to see confusion written in the vari- 
ous languages. I know how it appears in Italian 
already. Perhaps we shall have German next. 
It is a go, Sid. I am the heiress, if you please. You 
shall see how well I will fill the role without ever 
declaring in so many words what I wish to suggest.” 

They watched the landscape from the car windows 


112 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


and presently Sidney nudged Gabriella. Please 
to see our opposite neighbor. I envied him his 
neatly packed basket of luncheon when we came in, 
but I do so no more.’’ 

Gabriella glanced at her vis-a-vis to behold a 
thin red stream trickling down upon the man’s 
shoulder. He was gazing out the window in utter 
unconsciousness that he was losing the better part 
of his flask of wine. 

‘‘ Would you dare to tell him? ” whispered Sid- 
ney. 

We needn’t, but Gem can. She is absorbed 
in her accounts, but when she has stopped reducing 
that last column of francs and centimes to dollars 
and cents, I’ll speak to her. She can’t bear to be 
interrupted when she is doing her sums, you know.” 

And in the meantime our Italian friend will 
lose all his wine, and what is a meal without wine 
to a Latin? ” 

Tell him then.” 

“ Oh, I can’t ; I shouldn’t know what to say, and 
Gem has the dictionary.” 

Just at this moment Miss Cavendish looked up, 
a smile of satisfaction upon her face. “It is better 
than I thought,” she announced. “ So far it has 
cost us but fifteen dollars a week apiece for every- 
thing, board, lodging, washing, travelling expenses 
and — ” 

Here Sidney clutched her. “ I can’t stand it 


FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN 113 


another minute. It will soak through. Please tell 
him.’^ 

“What?^’ Miss Cavendish turned an amazed 
countenance upon her. “ What are you talking 
about, Sidney? 

“ That man, and his bottle of wine,’’ she whis- 
pered. Do tell him that it is leaking.” 

Miss Cavendish grasped the situation, and after 
presenting a disjointed sentence to their travelling 
companion, was given voluble thanks in perfectly 
good English, to the utter confusion of the girls. The 
bottle was then restored to a perpendicular position, 
while Sidney and Gabriella vainly tried to suppress 
an attack of giggles. 

‘‘ And to think,” whispered Sidney, ‘‘ we have 
been disclosing our inmost thoughts.” 

And Gem has gone so far as to confide to him 
the state of our finances. Did you ever know such 
first-class idiots as we are? ” 

But he looks so Italian,” murmured Sidney, 

as if he never had even heard a word of English 
before. I hope he does not understand enough to 
distinguish what we are saying under our breath.” 
But the rest of the way little was said by any of the 
three ladies, and when the Italian left the carriage, 
at Verona, all breathed a sigh of relief. 

“ All the same,” said Gabriella, after she had 
graciously returned the very polite bow he made 
at leaving, we had our fun out of him, if we did 


114 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


afford him amusement. I wish, however, that we 
had let the wine drip its very last drop before we 
had told him.’’ 

‘‘ You revengeful creature ; I am sure he could 
not have been more unobtrusively polite,” said Miss 
Cavendish. “ We never in the world could have 
told, by his expression, that he understood a word 
of what we were saying.” 

‘‘ That’s just what I have against him,” returned 
Gabriella ; ‘‘he ought to have looked as if he under- 
stood and then we shouldn’t have made such geese 
of ourselves.” 

“ Nevertheless, it was his intention to be as cour- 
teous as possible,” Miss Cavendish insisted. “ In- 
deed, I think the most humble of these Italians could 
give us lessons in politeness. I shall never forget 
our dear little padrona^s beautiful courtesy.” 

“ Yes, and didn’t you feel like some high mucka- 
muck when the entire family, even to the old grand- 
mother, followed us to the water’s edge and stood 
there bowing till we were out of sight? ” 

“ And they were so grateful for the largess we 
bestowed,” added Sidney. 

“ The smalless, you mean,” Gabriella put in, 
“ for we do not break ourselves when we give tips.” 

“ I am sure,” said Miss Cavendish slightly 
aggrieved, “ we give enough. It seems to me that 
I have tipped everybody and everything in Italy.” 

“ Except your soup plate,” broke in Gabriella 


FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN 115 


saucily ; ‘‘I notice you are never guilty of tipping 
that.’^ 

Miss Cavendish paid no attention to the interrup- 
tion but went on : They usually expect so much 
from Americans, that I think it is unjust to others 
to give more than seems fair. I am perfectly willing 
to give as much as the service is worth, but when 
it makes it difficult for those who have to economize, 
I think one should forbear the overpaying. It is 
indulging one’s self in generosity at the expense of 
one’s fellow countrymen.” 

Shall you ever forget the bland way in which that 
delightful old fellow in Naples said, when we dis- 
covered that he had charged three prices : ‘ but you 
are so reech-a and we are so poor-a ? ’ It seemed 
quite reason enough in his mind, and he was not in 
the least abashed at the fact of his having been de- 
tected.” 

They are like children,” returned Miss Caven- 
dish, and for that reason we can forgive them 
much.” 

We are leaving Verona,” said Gabriella, poking 
her head out of the window. ‘‘ I didn’t notice it 
before. I wonder if our friend of the wine flask is 
one of the two gentlemen of Verona.” 

He certainly is a gentleman,” remarked Miss 
Cavendish, still defending their late companion. 

Why do you smile, Gabriella? ” 

“ Oh, only because I shook my head and scowled 


116 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


so savagely at two women who were making for the 
carriage, that they backed away and went into the 
next. I think now we shall have this to ourselves 
the rest of the way.’’ 

‘‘ I don’t mind travelling with the people,” said 
Sidney. They are rather entertaining, and one 
learns many things about manners and customs, 
in a train.” 

“ It seems to me that we had enough of it this 
morning,” said Gabriella. If another man with 
a lunch basket comes in, I shall not be able to stand 
it, I am afraid. Why didn’t we get one of those nice 
little baskets, by the way? ” 

‘‘ Because we shall get to Milan in time for our 
next meal,” Miss Cavendish told her. 

‘‘Did you hear that American voice? Why do 
such people travel ? What do they get out of a trip ? ” 
said Gabriella. 

“What was she saying?” asked Miss Caven- 
dish. 

“ She announced to the world at large, very much 
through her nose, that she meant to travel first-class. 

‘ I can’t stand them fumeries,’ was her parting 
remark. I suppose she came abroad because her 
opposite neighbor went last year, and she will travel 
as rapidly as she can in order to get over all the 
ground possible; three months, no doubt for an 
extended tour of Europe. Can’t you fancy it? Oh, 
Gem, you certainly were a wise woman not to join 


FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN 117 


a party. What might we not have had thrust upon 
us?’’ 

You are a little too severe, dearie, for there is a 
deal to be gained from travelling with others. Travel 
at least ought to teach us to live and let live, and we 
ought to return home with a broader charity.” 

Or else with a ruined disposition,” returned 
Gabriella saucily. 

Answer for your own,” laughed Miss Cavendish; 
‘‘ mine has already been severely tested.” 

‘‘ Wicked, bad old woman to talk so to her dear 
little goddaughter,” returned Gabriella. “ I’ll never 
come over again with you.” 

“ Then I can bring Sidney, who never says naughty 
things to me.” 

For answer Gabriella snuggled up close to the 
older woman, called her all sorts of pet names, and 
made “ love-eyes ” at her as she had done from 
babyhood. 

“ There is one thing we all must learn,” said 
Sidney, watching the by-play, “ and that is to culti- 
vate a gentle tone of voice. That woman’s rasping 
notes still ring in my ears. I notice that there are 
very few Americans whose voices cannot be heard 
above all others.” 

Oh, but consider; we do not screech like pea- 
cocks, as the Italians do,” said Gabriella in her slow 
drawl. Do I speak like an American phonograph, 
Sid? If I do, I’ll talk no more.” 


118 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


Oh, you, no, I didn’t mean you,” returned Sid- 
ney quickly. “ To be sure you would never be mis- 
taken for an English woman, still you neither whine, 
talk through your nose, nor clip your words. I 
think you will do if you will remember not to shout, 
nor laugh loud when you are excited; it is then 
that we Americans lose control of our voices.” 

“ Alas, alas,” sighed Gabriella, I believe you 
are right. Please call me down when I soar too high, 
and I’ll do the same for you. Gem never forgets 
herself.” 

She has had the advantage over you of fifteen 
years of practice,” remarked Miss Cavendish, “ and 
she has likewise lost her girlish excitability.” 

‘‘She has not lost her enthusiasm, though; she 
will never outgrow that,” said Gabriella affection- 
ately. 

But here Milan was reached, and Gabriella rushed 
from the train to find a porter to take the luggage. 
It promised to be a difficult task, for the passengers 
were many and the porters few. “ Facchino! Fac- 
chinol ” called Miss Cavendish, her head out of the 
car window. 

“ Facchino , called Sidney the other side, but not 
one seemed able to spare time to attend to them. 

Gabriella clutched first one and then the other, 
but all were already spoken for. “ Do go and help 
the child,” said Miss Cavendish to Sidney. “ I will 
watch the luggage.” And Sidney joined forces with 


FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN 119 


Gabriella. Yet up to the time the train was ready 
to start not one disengaged porter could be found. 

What shall we do?” cried Miss Cavendish in 
despair. “ I can’t leave the luggage, and I must 
get off.” 

This is where our American system of checking 
seems mighty fine,” said Gabriella. “ I’ll come in 
and we’ll tumble out the baggage, not luggage, if you 
please on this occasion. We can manage it some- 
how.” 

But just here a soft voice behind Miss Cavendish 
asked, What is the matter? Can’t we help you? ” 
and turning, she saw two Englishwomen who had 
taken places in this special compartment. The 
train will be going,” they warned her; you’d best 
get off,” and they summarily bundled Miss Caven- 
dish from the carriage, and by the strength of their 
own beringed hands and braceleted arms lifted the 
heavy hand trunks through the windows just in time 
for them to be received by their anxious owners. 

“ Oh, dear,” said Gabriella, looking after the de- 
parting train, I wish I could run after it and thank 
them again. Did you ever see such dear kind things ? 
I foresee plainly that I shall become an Anglomaniac 
before I sail for home. I must get myself in training, 
for now I see why the English girls of necessity must 
be athletic.’^ 

“ 1 feel quite overpowered,” said Miss Cavendish. 
“ They were certainly friends in need. I suppose 


120 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


we might have lifted down those trunks ourselves, 
but every minute I hoped we could get hold of a 
porter, and I was afraid to leave the things for fear 
they might be stolen, or the train would start. That 
certainly was an experience I do not want to repeat.’’ 

We have never had any trouble before, and I 
have been so proud of my little trunk, but I begin 
to think it might be better to register.” 

Oh, no, we need not do that, I am sure,” said 
Gabriella. We shall probably never have such an 
experience again, and we have saved no end of money 
by always having our trunks in the carriage with us 
wherever we went. I should not wonder if we could 
take them over the Simplon pass with us. Next 
time if we don’t get hold of a jacchino right away, 
I shall lug them myself.” 

After the quiet waterways of Venice, Milan seemed 
bustling and noisy. I don’t like it,” declared 
Sidney. “ Take out the cathedral and Leonardo da 
Vinci’s Last Supper, and it may share the fate of 
a buried city for all I care. It is noisy, wicked and 
uninteresting.” 

Ah, but the cathedral is well worth stopping to 
see,” said Miss Cavendish as they left the door of the 
great church. 

‘‘ The light streaming across those vaulted arches 
was wonderful,” said Gabriella dreamily. “ I shall 
never forget that, and as for the Last Supper, dilapi- 
dated as it is, there is nothing to compare to it in all 


FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN 121 


the well preserved copies which share the room with 
it. Leonardo alone seems to have had a vision of his 
Lord. Oh, what a pity, what a pity that so great a 
triumph of art should be lost to the world as event- 
ually it must be. Nothing has ever impressed me 
more. Surely Leonardo was inspired if ever artist 
was. No, Sidney, I don’t regret coming to Milan, 
though now that we have seen the cathedral and that 
great picture I want to go.” 

If it were the opera season,” remarked Miss 
Cavendish, we might feel that it would be worth 
while to linger, but I agree with you, Gabriella, we 
have seen all that has any charm for us.” 

‘‘ So now for the lakes and that heavenly ride over 
the Simplon pass. I know it is going to be heavenly.” 

Unless it should be a rainy day, and you know 
it is so likely to rain in the mountains,” said Sidney. 

“ You old pessimist,” cried Gabriella. It isn’t 
going to rain, or if it does, only a very little, just 
enough for us to see the clouds rolling around the tops 
of the moimtains and the beautiful distance breaking 
through as we come down into the valley.” 

“What do you know about it?” asked Miss 
Cavendish. 

“ I am like the little boy who had eaten green 
apples and who suffered therefrom ; when his 
Christian Science aunt insisted that he had no pain 
in his little turn, that it was only imagination, he 
said : ‘ I reckon I know better than you ; I have 


122 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


inside information.’ That is my case. My pro- 
phetic soul tells me that we shall have a glorious 
trip.” 

“ I most devoutly hope so,” returned Miss Caven- 
dish, ‘‘for I have been thirsting for that mountain 
scenery for days.” 

“ Let me see, this is the plan, isn’t it? We leave 
early to-morrow morning for the lakes, spend a 
couple of days thereabouts and arrive at that place 
with the funny name — Domodossola, in the eve- 
ning. I am sure I shall like that town or village or 
whatever it is. Then the next morning we get into a 
real diligence, and go over a real Swiss mountain pass, 
all snow and glaciers and such things. Much as I 
hate to leave Italy, I shall be glad to get to Switzer- 
land, for I think Milan is an ugly link between the 
two, and I shall be glad to leave it.” 

“But not the cathedral? ” interposed Miss 
Cavendish. 

“ No, of course not ; it is Milan’s saving grace, to 
my mind. Without that I should remember it only 
as a bad, ugly, noisy place and I don’t care who 
hears me say it. Besides, the maid told me to-day 
that among the lower classes cats are considered as 
an excellent article of food, and that the poor things, 
even when they are known to be pets, are frequently 
stolen to be cooked and eaten. Isn’t that horrible? 
Almost like cannibalism, isn’t it? No, I shall have 
no glad memories of Milan.” 


FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN 123 


“ Gabriella, are you sure you are not making that 
up? ’’ asked Sidney. 

‘‘ No, I really am not. It was what the maid told 
me.’’ 

‘‘ Then she was hoaxing you.” 

She seemed perfectly serious, and she speaks 
English very well, so I could not have mistaken 
her. No, after that hullabaloo that kept up in the 
street the entire night, I am ready to believe any- 
thing of this place, and I yearn for a peaceful Swiss 
valley.” 


CHAPTER IX 


BELLS 

It was a temptation to linger in the region of the 
beautiful Italian lakes, but two days sufficed to give 
the trio such glimpses as made a lasting impression, 
and it was still May when they arrived in the quaint 
little village of Domodossola. Seeking the hotel 
which Miss Cavendish had selected as being a modest 
establishment, they were ushered into a large room 
with bare board floor. There were two beds in the 
room, and sufficient furniture for comfort, but the 
space was so large that there seemed shadowy comers 
fading away into dusky emptiness, and a stairway 
which led directly from the room to the floor below 
suggested all sorts of possibilities. 

‘‘Shall we dare to stop here?’’ asked Sidney. 
“ I feel as if a company of bandits might creep up 
that stairway in the night and murder us in cold 
blood.” But Gabriella stole down the stairs and 
returned with the assurance that the door at the foot 
was securely locked on their side. 

“ There is a fascinating little balcony out here,” 
she said, opening the long window. “It is exactly 
like a scene in the opera. Fra Diavolo, I think. We 

124 


BELLS 


125 


are evidently right on the public square, the market 
place or whatever it is, and there are ever so many 
interesting things to see; the people themselves 
are like stage people. See that soldier sitting at the 
table down there with a friend, and the little maid 
waiting on them. I think she must be Zerlina. Don’t 
you expect to hear them troll out a drinking song? 
Oh, I am sure this isn’t a real place; it is a stage 
setting, and we have come into it by mistake, for we 
are a part of the scenic effect : ladies on a balcony. 
I wonder what kind of dinner they will give us. 
You see I am returning to stern reality.” 

The dinner met their expectations, and was served 
in such a way as to heighten the stagey appearance 
of their surroundings. They spent their evening 
on the balcony watching the arrival of the market 
people who began to appear just after dark to prepare 
for the morrow’s market. All sorts of wares were 
brought in; vegetables, plants, dairy products, fish, 
clothing, notions and what not. A donkey bearing 
loaded panniers would be followed by a man bending 
beneath a burden packed upon his back; a man 
driving a cow and calf would precede a woman 
carrying a wicker basket filled with bleating kids. 
Another would bear a yoke, the two ends balanced 
by bundles whose contents could not be discovered. 
Queer stocky figures many of these Swiss peasants 
had, big heads set on bodies scarce larger, but with 
sturdy thick arms and legs which looked as if they 


126 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


might have belonged to a taller race. “Misfits,” 
Gabriella called them, but the broad faces, if stupid, 
were good-natured, and the stout legs were able to 
carry them up many a steep mountain climb. 

Till a late hour the bustle of arrivals kept up, 
but just as the weary travellers had dropped into their 
first slumber they were awakened by the sonorous 
notes of an unusually fine street-organ. “ There’s 
the orchestra,” said Gabriella sleepily; “ the opera 
is about to begin.” 

“It is really the finest perambulating organ I 
ever heard,” said Miss Cavendish; “at first I 
thought it was a full brass band. Imagine hearing 
such a thing away up here in this little mountain 
village.” 

“ I am much too sleepy to sing Zerlina to-night,” 
said Gabriella; “they will have to go on without 
me. I hope they have an understudy.” And she 
slept again. 

In the morning when the travellers took their 
places in the diligence the market was in full swing, 
and the street below their windows was filled with 
a busy throng. With a jangling of bells and a snap- 
ping of whips the diligence swept out of town, and 
then began the delights of a day half sunshine, half 
shower, just as Gabriella had hoped for. The 
season was early and the snow still lingered in many 
places, but the power of the sun had set free many of 
the mountain streams which leaped in thread-like 


BELLS 


127 


cascades down the mountain sides or dashed tumul- 
tuously through the valleys to join the river further 
on. The pass had been opened but a few days, and 
as the higher parts were reached the diligence 
clattered over an icy road through snow tunnels 
and along a way banked high on each side with 
masses of snow. 

“And three days ago we were eating those dear 
little strawberries down there in Italy, said Gabri- 
ella, “ and were uncomfortably warm. See one of our 
horses eating snow, Sid ; he takes a mouthful when- 
ever he can snatch one as he trots along. Isn’t he 
funny? I like to see animals with individual tastes.” 

“ Isn’t it cold and grey and desolate away up 
here? ” said Sidney. “ Do you realize that we are 
far up in the Alps, Gabriella? ” 

“ Oh, dear, yes. I am thrilling with appreciation 
at every revolution of the wheels. We are driving 
directly into a storm. I can see it ahead. It is lucky 
we decided upon these inside places, and that there 
is just room for the three of us. Everything is lucky 
and I am almost as happy as when I landed at 
Naples.” 

“For enthusiasm commend me to Gabriella,” 
said Sidney laughing; “ I believe she revels in the 
prospect of a storm here in these mountains.” 

“ I do revel,” answered Gabriella. “ Don’t those 
clouds look weird wrapping themselves around that 
mountain top? Now the rain comes pelting, but I 


128 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


don’t believe it will last long, for we shall get beyond 
it, and down into that little green valley with its toy 
houses. I can just catch a glimpse of it down there.” 

Mid-day brought them to Simplon where lunch 
was served and the horses were changed, then through 
ever varying delights of scenery they continued their 
journey, watching the clouds gather frowningly over 
some mighty mountain top, soon to break away and 
disclose patches of blue, which broadened into a 
sunshiny sky smiling over a verdant valley, and 
sending shining beams across the silver peaked 
mountains from which sparkling streams issued and 
forced their way in a myriad rainbow waterfalls 
to the river below. Quiet valleys, fields besprinkled 
with flowers of every hue, pasture lands where tin- 
kling herds cropped the lush spring grass ; all these 
fair visions appeared till the final stop was made 
at six o’clock in the little town of Breig. 

But we are not going to stay here,” Miss Caven- 
dish informed the others. We are going on to 
Visp ; it is a smaller place, and I think we shall like 
it better. Then, too, we shall be that much nearer 
Zermatt, which we are determined to see.” So to 
Visp they proceeded, and arrived at a clean little inn 
overlooking a pretty garden where they found them- 
selves the first guests of the season. 

A perfect chorus of bells awoke the sleepy travellers 
in the early morning. To the gravely regular pealing 
of the church chimes was added a tinkling accom- 


BELLS 


129 


paniment of cow-bells and goat-bells as the herds 
skipped past the small hotel on the way to their pas- 
tures after the morning’s milking. Gabriella lifted 
her head drowsily. ‘‘ I never knew what Alpine 
bells were before,” she murmured as she sank back 
into a semi-slumber. 

After a while the chiming and tinkling ceased, 
and Miss Cavendish arose to look out upon the quiet, 
mountain-girdled village. The sun was shining 
gloriously upon the dazzling peaks. In the neat 
garden below early flowers were blooming. The 
village lay hushed and peaceful in the encircling 
embrace of the mountains, and seemed far away from 
the rest of the world. Nothing could exceed its 
quiet serenity. 

‘‘ Get up ! Get up ! ” called Miss Cavendish to the 
girls. “ You are missing such glories as you may 
never see again.” 

Gabriella sat up in bed. “ Did you ever hear any- 
thing so sweet as those bells? ” she said. ‘‘ At first 
I thought I must be dreaming, and then I remembered 
all that I had heard of the melodious music of the 
Alpine bells.” She slipped on her wrapper and 
pattered across the floor to Sidney’s room. Wake, 
harp and lute,” she called. ‘‘ This is another world 
of enchantment. We shall have milk and honey and 
delectable food for breakfast, and then we must go 
and look upon that river that was tumbling and 
dashing through my dreams all night.” 


130 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


Sidney needed no second call, and they were not 
long in occupying the places set for them alone in the 
homelike dining-room. But though in a land of 
flocks and herds, the butter failed to come up to 
their expectations, though the honey was in evidence. 
After deciding to take the noon train to Zermatt they 
started out to explore the village. Leaving the 
level plain of the main street they climbed up to 
where a quaint old church stood over against the 
bank of the brawling little river. The place was so 
quiet that it seemed almost as if they had it all to 
themselves, except when a group of children laughed 
out in their play or a woman’s voice was heard calling 
to a romping boy. 

“ I am glad we must come back to the dear peace- 
ful little place,” said Sidney after they had said 
good-by to the rosy-cheeked, friendly little maid who 
watched them depart. I think I like the name 
Visp, better than the French Viege; it seems to suit 
the village better.” 

“Yes, it sounds keen and crisp like the air,” 
returned Gabriella. 

“ It was very near to being destroyed by an earth- 
quake,” Miss Cavendish read from her book. 

“ I am glad it was spared for our delectation,” 
said Gabriella. “ Now we have a mighty climb, 
haven’t we ? ” 

“ Yes, we go up nearly a thousand metres higher. 
Zermatt lies 1620 meters above the level of the sea.” 


BELLS 


131 


‘‘ Do tell me in feet/’ said Gabriella. I never 
can remember how much a meter is.” 

‘‘ It is about 39 inches. Calculate for yourself,” 
said Miss Cavendish. 

Gabriella shook her head. “ I won’t attempt it, 
and I really don’t care to know about such sordid 
things as feet and inches at such a time as this. Did 
you ever see such a mad, brawling, utterly uncon- 
trolled stream as this little Visp ? I find it very satis- 
factory, for it is just what a mountain stream should 
be; it suggests glaciers and avalanches and banks 
of melting snow. It is so noisy, too, but I love its 
wild music, and I am glad to have made the acquain- 
tance of such a charming, mad little river. I shall 
never forget it.” 

“ We get very close to some of these small villages,” 
remarked Sidney. Some of them look as if they 
had come out of a box of toys and were made to set 
under a Christmas tree. I think I like those over- 
hanging houses the best.” 

Glaciers before us and on every side,” announced 
Gabriella as they climbed higher, “ and oh, the 
fields of flowers, hundreds and millions of delicate 
little bells of all colors. I am glad we came early, 
even if we do miss some of the sights. I do hope we 
shall find some of those lovely blue and pink and 
purple beauties when we get to Zermatt. I’d like 
to go right out into the fields and sit in their 
midst.” 


132 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ There is the Weisshorn,” exclaimed Miss Caven- 
dish suddenly. 

Don’t let me miss the first glimpse of the Matter- 
horn,” said Sidney when they had recovered from 
this view of a mighty mountain peak. But at last 
when the wonderful, lonely, isolated white pyramid 
arose to view they were all silent and tears came to 
Sidney’s eyes. I wish mother were here,” she 
whispered. 

Gabriella gave her hand a little squeeze. ‘‘ That’s 
just how I feel,” she said. “ It is too splendid to en- 
joy without those you love best.” 

They found but one hotel open, so early was it, and 
to this they repaired. It was delightfully comfortable, 
and since the regular season had not begun the prices 
were not beyond their expectations. 

‘‘ I think it is a great scheme to come ahead of the 
crowd,” said Gabriella. Everyone is so glad to see 
us, and they are glad to give us the best rooms and 
all the attention we want. Besides it is far more 
pleasant to find that the most beautiful places are 
not thronged with curious or indifferent tourists. 
Yes, I think it is wise to come to Switzerland when 
everyone thinks it is too early. There are enough 
people in the hotel to make us feel as if it were not 
kept up solely for our benefit, and to prevent our 
fearing that the cook will not put forth her best efforts. 
As usual we have done the right thing. You are such 
a bright and shining light of a personal conductor. 


BELLS 


133 


Gem, that even when you scare us into thinking you 
have made a mistake it turns out to be the most 
fortunate thing that could have happened. Now, 
if you are ready we will climb up to those little huts 
on the mountain-side. I simply cannot wait to reach 
them.^’ 

“ Gabriella is in her most optimistic mood,’^ said 
Miss Cavendish. I think she should write a book 
and call it: ^Europe through rose-colored spec- 
tacles.’ ” 

But aren’t you ecstatically happy? Don’t you 
think just as I do ? ” asked Gabriella in a surprised 
tone. If you don’t feel that way, you are my only 
disappointment.” 

“ In that case,” returned her godmother, I 
shall have to acknowledge that I am in a state of 
perfect content, and that you are a large factor in 
making me so. Now we are ready, dear Impatience.” 

The climb up the mountain-side was not difficult, 
and, yielding to the effect produced by balmy air, 
sunlit flower-strewn meadows, inspiring views of 
moimtain and valley, their exuberance took them 
as far as the three huts. Their way was carpeted 
with flowers of such beauty and variety as they had 
not dreamed of finding, and Gabriella had her wish, 
for she could sit down in their midst. ‘‘ I feel riot- 
ously prodigal,” she said. I don’t know the names 
of any of these dear things, and I couldn’t do justice 
to them if I were to attempt to describe them, but 


134 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


I am going to gather just a very few to send to dear 
little mother; these forget-me-nots, and these hare- 
bells, or whatever they are, and that lovely white 
thing. Oh, the blue-bells, the cow-bells, the flower 
bells and the church-bells of Switzerland, how 
beautiful they are. What are you thinking of, Sid? 

I was looking at this magnificent view, and was 
thinking that probably there are other places just 
as beautiful, of which we know nothing, and which 
are rarely visited by the general tourist. You know 
it is not so many years since Zermatt became known 
to travellers.^’ 

‘‘ And were you wishing that you could happen 
upon such a place and enjoy it unspoiled? One 
does feel that way once in a while. It is selfish, I 
suppose, but it is quite natural,” said Miss Caven- 
dish. “ I hate to think of the flora of these mountains 
ruthlessly plucked up by hordes of visitors, so that 
certain varieties are getting scarcer every year. If 
it were not for the good work done by the Society 
for the Preservation of the Alpine Flora no doubt 
many species would disappear altogether.” 

Do you knew that I have just thought that it 
is possible that the Corner Grat railway is not 
running,” said Gabriella. ‘‘ I can see the road, but 
I believe I have heard that it will not begin travel 
till the first of June. Oh, dear, I shall have to admit 
that I am to experience a disappointment.” 

Their fears were realized when they returned 


BELLS 


135 


to the hotel and were told that they were too early 
for an ascent by way of the railway. Of course it 
is disappointing/’ acknowledged Gabriella, ‘‘ but 
there is so much to enjoy, that we can spare that.” 

“ Instead of blue glasses for these snowy peaks, 
Gabriella still wears her rose-colored spectacles,” re- 
marked Sidney with a smile. 

But the next day it rained incessantly and moun- 
tain climbing was out of the question. They did 
undertake a moist excursion around the town, stopped 
a moment with dripping umbrellas by the graves of 
the unfortunates lost in their adventurous attempts 
to scale dangerous peaks, but it was rather a desolate 
sort of expedition, and they returned to their com- 
fortable quarters to make up accounts, write letters 
and to read the folk lore of the region, which was 
rich in legends and thrilling tales of perilous under- 
takings. Yet the weather did not encourage a longer 
stay than another night, and the next day they were 
welcomed back to their little inn at Visp by the 
cheerful, friendly maid whose exact position in the 
household it was hard to define, but who received 
them as if they were old and well-tried friends just 
returned from a long journey. 

If I were worn out, a blase, nervously prostrated 
creature instead of the brisk spinster that I am,” 
said Miss Cavendish, “ I should choose this restful 
little spot to recuperate in. I should enjoy a long 
stay here as it is, but with an American eagerness 


136 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


to see all that time and money affords I am afraid 
that forward must be the word. It is too early for 
that ride over the pass to Chamounix, and so I think 
we shall go right on to Geneva. I find few of the 
passes are open, and I am a httle regretful, in spite 
of Gabriella’s enthusiasm, in the matter of being on 
hand early. I am afraid the vanguard doesn’t 
always get the best of it.” 

‘‘ I don’t care,” put in Gabriella lightly; I have 
seen the Matterhorn, and I would rather that than 
any other mountain. We can get a glimpse of Mont 
Blanc from Geneva, and we shouldn’t want to climb 
it anyhow. I am perfectly satisfied to go anywhere 
you want to take me ; it’s all grist that comes to my 
mill” 

Gabriella, you dear child,” said Miss Cavendish, 
giving her a hug, ‘‘ your unwavering enthusiasm and 
cheerfulness are worth a fortune.” 

Just watch me when somebody offers me a 
fortune for it,” returned Gabriella, laughing. 

What is our route? ” asked Sidney, looking up 
from the map spread out before her. 

“ We take the train as far as Villeneuve, and there 
we shall get a steamer which will carry us around the 
upper shore of the lake. My first intention was to 
stop off at Martigny and go by diligence to Cha- 
mounix, but as the pass is still closed to travel, we 
shall have to substitute this other route.” 

“ It is a lovely one,” declared the girls. ‘‘ We 


BELLS 


137 


shall be able to see all the dear little towns and the 
castle of Chillon, and all that.’^ 

‘‘ We shall have plenty of time for luncheon at 
Villeneuve,” Miss Cavendish told them, and we 
shall reach Geneva in time for dinner/’ 

‘‘ If we have a fine day it will be a perfectly de- 
lightful trip,” remarked Sidney. 

‘‘ It will be a fine day,” decided Gabriella. 
“ Have we had anything else except in Rome, and 
that time when we travelled first-class, and that was 
punishment for our extravagance, I am sure.” 

What about yesterday’s deluge? ” said Sidney 
Oh, that doesn’t count ; it always rains in the 
mountains, and besides, that was another first-class 
venture, for it was a superior sort of hotel. We don’t 
go first-class this time, do we. Gem? ” 

‘‘ Only upon the steamer. I did want to see the 
^ sweet vale of Chamounix,’ but I suppose it will 
be there when I next come this way.” 

Oh, that next time, that next time. How con- 
fidently we speak of it. It takes a deal of supposing 
to get to all the places we have to leave out now,” 
said Sidney. 

“ But we have all the fun of supposing,” said 
Gabriella. ‘‘ I feel sorry for those persons who 
cannot enjoy air-castles.” 

They reached Villeneuve at high noon. The 
streets of the clean bright little town seemed almost 
deserted, for everyone was at the mid-day meal. 


138 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


“ I think it would be great fun to go foraging,” 
said Miss Cavendish. What do you say, girls? 
Let’s go around to the shops and see what we can 
find; then we can have a picnic lunch down by 
the shores of the lake. There doesn’t seem to be a 
soul about, and we can go tramping where we like.” 

The girls agreed enthusiastically, and they soon 
discovered a neat, appetizing little bake-shop which 
offered such a tempting array of rolls, bims and cakes 
that it was difl&cult to select from them. Cheese and 
salame were found at the butcher shop, the door 
of which was found to be locked, though a persistent 
rapping brought a breathless boy from around the 
corner, who, after wiping his mouth on the back 
of his hand, opened to them. A grocer near by 
supplied fruit, chocolate and wine, so the well-laden 
trio took up a station near the steamboat landing, 
where undisturbed and unobserved they ate their 
luncheon with relish. 

Comfortable places on the deck of the steamer 
were easy to find, and skirting the blue lake, touching 
at fair little towns upon its border, they continued 
throughout the afternoon. 

‘‘ I like it,” announced Gabriella, after she had 
settled herself. “It is all blueness and mountain 
glistenings, and pretty white viUaged towns and 
coolness tempered by sunshine. Lake Geneva is 
just what I imagined it to be. Now, if I had but 
been allowed to read Byron’s poems by my god- 


BELLS 


139 


mother I might repeat to you the ‘ Prisoner of 
Chillon/ but as I know only a few lines of it you will 
have to say it yourselves, if either one knows it.’’ 

I can only remember: 

« * There are four towers of Gothic mold 
By Chillon’s dungeons dark and old ’ — 

or is it cold? I forget,” said Miss Cavendish. 

And I can recall something about ‘ My hair is 
white but not with fright,’ and I am not sure as to 
that,” said Sidney. 

Never mind, we all know the story, and it will 
mean just as much to us when we come to the place,” 
said Miss Cavendish. 

‘‘ I’d like to make a circuit of the lake and stop 
at each little place for a day,” remarked Sidney, 
and I should like to have done the same at the Ital- 
ian lakes.” 

“ Shall we stop off somewhere? We can as well 
as not,” suggested Miss Cavendish. ‘‘ You know we 
are burdened with only hand baggage.” 

“If it were not for the letters waiting for us in 
Geneva we might,” said Sidney doubtfully, “ but 
it has been so long since we could have our mail 
that I think we would better go on.” 

“ And Sidney will get that specially fat letter which 
she always grabs so eagerly and then flocks off by 
herself to read. Of course it is from her brother,” 
said Gabriella teasingly. 


140 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


“ A clean, wholesome, orderly, cheerful little city 
is Geneva,’’ Miss Cavendish made the comment 
when they were established in comfortable rooms, 

but it need not delay us long, although we could 
find much to interest us here. It is the birthplace 
of many celebrities and has borne its part in many 
struggles.” 

We shall want to hear the musical boxes,” said 
Sidney. 

“ And we must go to the shops,” said Gabriella. 

I have been told that they are excellent, though 
why I should visit them I don’t know, except from 
curiosity, for my pittance of spending-money is nearly 
gone now.” 

‘‘ You forget your role of heiress,” said Miss 
Cavendish. 

‘‘ So I do. Then I will pretend that I can spend 
with a lavish hand, and will pick out what I would 
buy if I could while you and Sid make the real pur- 
chases ; that will amuse me and take off the edge of 
my desire.” 

The pile of letters was waiting for them, and if 
Sidney slipped a particularly thick one in her bag, 
so did Gabriella start and look conscious when an 
unpretentious envelope, bearing the postmark ‘‘ Flor- 
ence,” was placed in her hand. 


CHAPTER X 


CHIEFLESS CASTLES ” 

The week at Lucerne was one of perpetual rain, 
and the feast of Corpus Christi, which took the trio 
to the place at this special date, was a grand fizzle, 
for if it had drizzled and misted and showered during 
most of the other days, upon this special one was a 
steady downpour which prevented the annual pro- 
cession from taking its route over the old bridges and 
interfered seriously with the parading of holiday attire. 
With her two charges, under the shelter of umbrellas. 
Miss Cavendish took up a position upon the steps of 
the Cathedral, where a dripping host passed them, 
climbing the way to the church. There was little to 
be seen of the advancing procession but a multitude 
of umbrellas held at various distances from the 
ground, water-soaked and overspread with running 
rivulets. Some marched bravely, disregarding the 
persistent flood, but the little girls, who had started 
out white-frocked and garland-decked, presented 
a sorry appearance as the red of paper roses and 
green leaves mingled with the pervasive moisture 
and stained the white frocks hopelessly. Draggled 
and parti-colored, these looked forlorn enough to 
141 


142 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

bring distress to the countenances of the disappointed 
little girls. 

“ Lucerne is beautiful enough and attractive 
enough in every way to invite us to stay longer,” 
said Miss Cavendish, as they wended their way 
back through the sloppy streets, and under weeping 
trees to their pension, “ but there seems to be no end 
to this rain, and what good are mountains hidden 
under a pall of cloud ? What is the use of a lake upon 
which one dares not venture in a boat? Where is 
the enjoyment of a garden with wet paths and soak- 
ing benches? What are views seen through a veil 
of descending drops? I can imagine that when the 
sun is shining this is an entrancing place, but in 
rainy weather — well, I think we may as well move 
on. What do you say, my sweetings? ” 

Oh, we are not so wildly enthusiastic about 
paddling around in rubbers and rain-coats as to 
object to any scheme you may have in mind,” re- 
marked Gabriella. “ Where next. Gem? ” 

‘‘To Heidelberg, thence to Mayence, and down 
the Rhine to Cologne.” 

“ That sounds enticing. I'll pack my trunklet 
at once,” said Sidney. “ My imagination begins 
to riot among castles and crags and — ” 

“ Students,” put in Gabriella. “ Heidelberg 
suggests students first of all; the kind that wear 
different colored caps and go about with strange 
sabre cuts slanting across their manly faces.” 


CHIEFLESS CASTLES^’ 


143 


There is a fine castle at Heidelberg, you know? ” 
continued Sidney. 

So much the better; I like the combination of 
castles and colleges.’’ 

And the Black Forest practically begins there,” 
Sidney went on; I always did want to see that.” 

I am afraid you will hardly see the edge of it,” 
remarked Miss Cavendish, ‘‘for I think we shall 
not linger long in Heidelberg. Not that it isn’t a 
place in which we could linger satisfactorily, but 
because it seems better to cover the ground more 
rapidly unless we have an abundance of time.” 

They arrived at the old university town late in the 
evening, and took up their quarters on the pleasant 
Anlage. A concert was going on at the Public 
Gardens and thither they started after supper, to the 
delight of the girls, who realized that here would be 
a gathering of students and townspeople, too. It 
was a quiet, orderly performance. Discreet young 
women, properly chaperoned by smiling mammas, 
occupied chairs before which bowed favored young 
men, who, with mamma’s consent, bore off the 
damsels for a promenade while the music went on. 
Around and around marched the slow procession; 
here were old men and maidens, young men and 
children decorously pacing and talking quietly. 
Here were green caps, blue caps, red caps, set upon 
locks of varied hues and above seamed countenances 
which betokened that the wearer had participated in 


144 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


an encounter which, to his thinking, added glory to his 
student career. There was no disorder, no confusion, 
no undue hilarity. Before the tables where they 
indulged in moderate draughts of beer, sat groups 
of young men, elderly couples, or whole families. 
It was an interesting sight to the Americans, who 
at last arose and said regretfully: Where at home 
could we sally forth by ourselves to an open-air con- 
cert where beer drinking was the correct thing, and 
where good music could be heard for such a modest 
sum as twelve cents? There are surely some things 
it would be well to import, among them the delightful 
freedom and comfort of cheap and respectable 
out-door entertainments.’’ 

At the castle their enthusiasm grew in proportion 
as they climbed the height. The day was one of 
June’s fairest, and the gardens were at their loveliest. 
Below them nestled the houses of Heidelberg; be- 
yond wound the silver thread of the Neckar. 

“ What a beautiful garden one Elizabeth must 
have had,” said Sidney. “Let me see. Do I re- 
member rightly? The English building was built 
by Frederick V. for his princess, wasn’t it? ” 

“Yes, and not long before the thirty years war,” 
Miss Cavendish replied. “ The oldest part of the 
castle dates from the fourteenth century, and it was 
the residence of the Electors Palatine. Count 
Palatine Otho of Wittelsbach, made the city the 
capital of his territory in the thirteenth century, and 


CHIEFLESS CASTLES’^ 


145 


for five hundred years it was the principal town of 
the palatinate.” 

How dreadful that it should have been des- 
troyed.” 

“ Yes, but what beautiful ruins these are,” said 
Gabriella. ‘‘ I think the castle is much more pic- 
turesque than if it were intact. Such a tremendous 
place it was. To think that these thick, thick walls 
were battered in.” 

I think it was wicked and barbarous, in spite of 
its having been left a picturesque ruin,” said Sid- 
ney. 

“ We shall see other fine ruins on the Rhine,” 
said Miss Cavendish, but I doubt if any be more 
interesting than this. Now if you are all sufficiently 
Baedeker- wise we will go back, and this afternoon 
we can take the Philosophenweg.” 

Not too early,” said Sidney. They say it is 
not so pleasant when the sun is high.” 

But they did start too early, and found it a hot and 
weary climb, though the discovery of cherry gather- 
ers at the top of the hill somewhat compensated them 
for the long walk. For a few cents they bargained 
for as much of the luscious fruit as they could eat, 
and they sat down contentedly under the trees till 
the sun should sink lower and render their way 
back less uncomfortably warm. 

We haven’t had really more than a glimpse of 
Heidelberg,” said Miss Cavendish, “ but I think it 


146 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


gives us a very good idea of the place. Are you 
content with what you have seen? ” 

“ Perfectly/’ declared the girls, and Gabriella 
added : “ When I make a study of German I 
shall come here.” 

And to-morrow we go to Mayence and then 
on our Rhine trip,” said Sidney. We shall stay 
all night in Mayence, shall we? ” 

‘‘Yes, there are some things worth seeing there, 
and we shall want all day for the sail down the 
Rhine. At Mayence Gutenberg was born and there 
the first printing office was set up. There is a very 
old and interesting cathedral there, too, where the 
Tasso of Mayence is buried.” 

“ Who was he ? Now I am interested,” said 
Gabriella. 

“ He was Count Heinrich von Meissen, sumamed 
Frauenlob, who during life was calumniated and 
insulted, but whose body was borne to the grave 
by the women whose praises he had sung. Mayence 
has many interesting pages of history, and it is full 
of tradition and relics. Its citizens still believe that 
it was in their city that Constantine the Great beheld 
his vision of the Holy Cross.” 

“ Was Heidelberg named for its castle or was 
the castle named for the city? ” asked Sidney. 

“ It is said that the city takes its name from 
Heidelbeeren, or myrtles, with which the castle hill 
was covered in the long ago days when it was 


CHIEFLESS CASTLES^’ 


147 


possessed by shepherds who led their flocks 
there.” 

‘‘ And now there are flocks of students here nib- 
bling in pastures of knowledge and finding laurels 
instead of myrtles,” said Gabriella. 

ThaFs not bad, Gabriella,” said Miss Caven- 
dish. “ The town has been five times bombarded, and 
burnt to the ground twice, while three times it has 
been taken in war and plundered by soldiers, so you 
see there are disadvantages in being too attract- 
ive.” 

I’d run the risk,” said Gabriella, if I could be 
as attractive when I am old.” 

What a threatening stronghold that castle must 
have been, perched up so high above the town and 
overlooking the country around,” said Sidney. 
“No wonder it was considered worthy of an enemy’s 
worst. When was it besieged. Gem? ” 

“ At the siege of Chantilly in 1693, but it was 
partially restored only to be struck by lightning in 
1764, since which time it has remained a ruin.” 

“ When the baa-lambies stopped browsing on the 
hill, what came next? ” asked Gabriella. 

“ Next came the Romans, probably. After a 
while it grew to be a market town and increased in 
importance as time went on. You remember Long- 
fellow’s description of the castle, don’t you? It is 
in ‘ Hyperion,’ and of course you have read it.” 

“ I have of course, but those things don’t make 


148 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


half the impression when one has not been to the 
spot. I shall read it with new interest.” 

There is much about Heidelberg in the tale. 
I forgot to tell you that the university was founded 
in 1386.” 

The dates that I have swallowed this day,” 
said Gabriella. I wish I knew how to distinguish 
the student corps by their caps; there goes a blue 
one.” 

Miss Cavendish turned over the pages of her book. 
“ The Prussians wear white, the Westphalians green, 
the Vandals red, the Rhinelanders blue, the Swabians 
yellow.” 

So it is a Rhinelander stalking down the hill 
there,” said Gabriella, looking after the student. 
“ Dear me, I am afraid I should soon get perfectly 
fascinated with Heidelberg.” 

“ Then we must hurry away,” said Miss Caven- 
dish, “ for the interest unfolds from hour to hour. 
The whole neighborhood seems to offer an endless 
number of walks and drives, and the whole country- 
side bristles with legends, so, lest we are tempted 
to stay here the rest of our lives, we must start for 
Mayence.” 

They arose from their seat under the leafy tree 
and returned to the town to prepare for the next 
stage of their journey, and were in Mayence the next 
day in time for dinner. They found this a pleasant 
little town where excellent accommodations could 


‘‘CHIEFLESS CASTLES’’ 


149 


be had at a small hotel. A view of the cathedral, a 
walk along the fine quay by the riverside occupied 
the few hours they had to spare before an eve- 
ning meal, and after that an open air concert gave 
them all the entertainment they needed. 

“ We certainly were not disappointed in Mayence,” 
said Gabriella as their steamer was pushing out upon 
the Rhine the next morning. “ That was a good 
little hotel and they gave us excellent things to eat 
at a very moderate price. I hope we shall not be 
disappointed in the Rhine; so many persons are.” 

“ That is because they look for quantity rather 
than quality,” said Miss Cavendish. “ They expect 
to see a river as broad as the Mississippi, and forget 
that it is beauty of scenery we are to look for. Be- 
tween here and Bonn we may expect to find the finest 
part of the river.” 

“ It is a glorious day and the world is very beauti- 
ful,” sighed Gabriella, looking with increasing 
interest at the scene before her. 

“ I am going to get a little book of Rhine legends 
that I see over there,” said Sidney. “ It will help us 
to enjoy all this storied Rhine.” The small book, 
purchased from an affable vendor of photographs, 
guide-books and such like wares, proved to be rather 
an amusing translation of the Rhine legends, but 
served the double purpose of adding to the party’s 
information as well as to their hilarity. “ The poetry 
is the funniest I ever saw,” said Sidney, looking up 


150 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


from the printed page. ‘‘ Evidently the whole 
translation has been laboriously made word by word 
from a dictionary. Listen to this : 

‘“He twirled a small staff in the air 
And unintelligibly talked — 

Appearing a Being of precipice rare 
As if from deep ravine he walked.’ 


Isn’t that perfectly delightful ? Shouldn’t you love 
to see that kind of being, Gabriella? ” 

‘‘ Here, here,” called Miss Cavendish, “ you are 
missing all the beautiful scenery while you are laugh- 
ing over that nonsense. Leave that part for a rainy 
day when you are pining for something to do.” 

This is one occasion when I should like to be 
wall-eyed,” said Gabriella, “ so I could look on both 
sides the river at once. While I am gazing at some 
enchanting bit on the left, I am missing something 
I ought to be looking at on the right.” 

“ ‘ The castled crag of Drachenfels 

Frowns o’er the wide and winding Rhine, 

Whose breast of waters broadly swells 
Between the banks which bear the vine,’ ” 


quoted Miss Cavendish, as they neared Rolandseck. 

Just here, girls, I think it is more beautiful than 
any point on the river that we have yet seen.” 

Oh, isn’t it satisfactory ! ” cried Gabriella. 

“ I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” asserted 



“‘HERE, HERE,’ CALLED MISS CAVENDISH, ‘YOU 
ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.’” 


ARE MISSING 



'*• .. ■ ^^:iW'<'. ^ ■'■ •« . • '- -y '■ -gr ^ 

V'ffffy/vliSB'' ■■' »^ b' ' ■ "'■•■‘^•ic’ 

v? kA - ^ ^ ‘fkj? •v.-' PlaTfci H v'Aii 




CHIEFLESS CASTLES” 


151 


Sidney. ‘‘ Do try to remember more of Byron’s 
beautiful poem. What is that about ‘ chiefless 
castles breaking stern farewells? ’ I wish we had a 
copy of Byron. One ought to take a travelling library 
abroad ; it is impossible to go around laden down with 
books, yet you want them at every turn. Are you 
feeling disappointed, Gem? ” 

‘‘ Not I. It meets my every expectation, and some 
day I mean to come to Rolandseck and stay for a 
week to read Byron.” 

Then you have settled on Rolandseck as your 
favorite spot along the river? ” 

“ Yes, I think so, for it commands the Drachenfels, 
the Siebengebirge and the mountain of Rolandseck 
where p^or lovelorn Roland built his castle. It seems 
to me that here the beauty of the river culminates, 
and some day I should like to come back to it when 
I could take time for an intimate acquaintance with 
the neighborhood. What scores of tales and legends 
swarm into one’s memory just here. It is here that 
one discovers the inspiration of Wagner’s operas, 
which can be understood how much better after 
seeing these renowned castles and famous cliffs.” 

Beyond Bonn the scenery became tamer, and by 
the time they had reached Cologne they did not regret 
that they must leave the steamer. A glimpse only 
of the cathedral was all the evening light afforded 
them, but this was sufficient to cause them to speak 
in whispers as they issued from the splendid interior. 


152 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ We can walk around and see the outside, anyhow,’’ 
said Sidney. ‘‘ I want to take in every detail, for 
it is the most beautiful thing I ever imagined in the 
way of architecture. I am glad the windows of our 
room at the hotel give us a view of those magnificent 
towers. It has been a wonderful day. Gem; that 
lovely Rhine, and now this.” 

“ And we will end it with a garden concert,” said 
Miss Cavendish. ‘‘ One can always be sure of good 
music in Germany, wherever one goes.” 

But they did not dream that one of their most 
treasured memories would be connected with their 
evening in the Flora Gardens, to which they were 
directed by the urbane proprietor of their hotel, 
A good concert might be expected, they were told, 
and they would enjoy the gardens themselves. The 
long twilight made it possible for them to reach the 
place before dark, and it was nine o’clock before the 
darkness began to gather over the beautiful garden. 
The shadowy walks and lovely vistas so invited them 
that at the first intermission they left their places 
to wander down the paths beyond which were softly 
plashing fountains and blossoming plants. 

They had sauntered quite away from the groups 
of persons who were lounging along the broader walks 
and had come to a quiet, lonely spot shaded by over- 
hanging boughs of densest leafage. Suddenly from 
the midst of this bosky grove came a note of marvel- 
lous purity, then another, and presently such a song 


‘‘CHIEFLESS CASTLES 


153 


of marvellous sweetness fell upon their ears as held 
them spellbound. 

“ Is it a nightingale? whispered Gabriella. 

Miss Cavendish nodded an assent. 

Sidney stood with eyes full of tears. Gabriella 
clasped her hands tensely and looked up into the 
deeply green branches where the songster had made 
his retreat. Not a word was said while the bird 
trilled out his notes of ecstasy. The concert which 
they had come to hear was forgotten. They stood 
in mute delight while the song burst forth from time 
to time. Silence, and then a repetition of the glori- 
ous song in all its fulnesS; it seemed as if the little 
creature^s heart must burst with the rapture of it, 
and to those who listened it was as if it came from 
no earthly being but that it was a voice from Para- 
dise. At last it ceased, and the three, after listening 
in vain for a repetition, caught only a distant echo 
of the song and they walked quietly away. 

“ Let us go home,’’ said Sidney. “ I don’t want 
to hear the rest of the concert. That nightingale’s 
song is enough for one evening.” 

“ It was the most exquisitely delicious thing I 
ever listened to,” Gabriella said. “ Oh, Gem, who 
could have dreamed that we, who listened in vain for 
a nightingale in Italy, should have found one here? 
What a red-letter day it has been ! That beautiful 
Rhine, that wonderful cathedral, that heavenly song ! 
It has been almost too much; I feel as if I should 


154 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

like to creep off somewhere in this garden and 
weep.’’ 

“ That would be such a typically German thing 
to do,” laughed Miss Cavendish. “You haven’t 
said wunderschoen once, but your desire to shed tears 
in this garden would satisfy even Jean Paul who 
might address you something like this : ‘ Thou sweet 
one! Thou of the tender heart and tearful eyes! 
that rapturous song has broken the fountain of thy 
youth with its melody and thy soul gushes forth 
in sparkling drops ! ’ ” 

“ Stop making fun of Jean Paul,” cried Gabriella. 
“ You are ready to cry yourself, and are ashamed 
of it, and that is why you speak so lightly.” 

“ That is about the truth, Rella,” returned Miss 
Cavendish soberly. “ It has been a day of sheer 
delight to me as well as to you, but I can’t afford to 
be too sentimental when I have two romantic maidens 
gazing at me with such languishing eyes.” 

The cathedral by morning light was even more 
beautiful than at evening. The wonderful coloring 
of the stained glass against the greyish white of the 
stonework seemed then more effective. 

“No wonder it has been so many years in build- 
ing,” remarked Sidney. “ The exact date of its 
commencement is 1248, I find, but for a long time 
no work was done upon it.” 

“ It is hardly possible to conceive of the magnifi- 
cence of its proportions,” observed Miss Cavendish. 


‘‘CHIEFLESS CASTLES’^ 


155 


“ I cannot realize that it is four hundred feet long 
and that the towers are five hundred feet high.’’ 

“ I want to know the legend of St. Ursula and of 
the Theban legion,” Gabriella said. 

“ You surely haven’t forgotten the story of St. 
Ursula and the eleven thousand virgins. We looked 
that up in Italy.” 

“ So we did. Yes, I remember now.” 

“ The martyrs of the Theban legion were 
Christians who, with the rest of the Roman army, 
crossed the Alps. They were ordered by Maxi- 
milian to sacrifice to Jupiter, but this they refused 
to do, and the command was given for every tenth 
man to be slain. This order was repeated at every 
refusal of the remaining members of the legion to 
join in the sacrificial rite, till only a very few were 
left; these escaped and became hermits.” 

“ Speaking of legends,” remarked Gabriella, “ I 
forgot to call your attention to the funniest bit of 
writing I have seen yet. It beats your Rhine legends, 
Sidney. It hangs in my room at the hotel where you 
can see it for yourselves and prove the truth of my 
copy. The lack of punctuation agrees with the 
original. It is one of the curiosities which I shall 
take home with me.” And she produced a paper 
which read : “ To open and close the electrical on 
is requested to turn to the right hand when going 
to bed it must be closed otherwise the lightning 
must be paid.” 


156 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


A chorus of laughter went up after the reading of 
this remarkable notice. “ IVe been wondering ever 
since where one finds the lightning which must be 
paid/’ Gabriella informed the other two. Do 
you suppose they keep it bottled up in a sort of office 
and make a fetish of it, and that one goes in and 
desposits a mark as a sacrificial offering, or some- 
thing like that? ” 

It is the loveliest bit of English we have yet 
discovered,” Sidney averred. “ I must have a copy 
of it. Cologne has certainly afforded us plenty of 
laughter if her cathedral does silence us and if her 
nightingale does move us to tears.” 


CHAPTER XI 


THREE HUNDRED WINDMILLS 

Two rooms high up in a modest little hotel just 
off the Dam ’’ were considered satisfactory quar- 
ters for the three travellers who arrived in Amsterdam 
late one evening in early June. The rooms have 
the advantage of facing the street and of being off 
to themselves,’^ said Miss Cavendish, viewing them 
complacently, and I am sure they are very cheap, 
though I have always heard that in Holland one 
must expect to pay high prices for everything. To 
be sure this doesn’t compare with what one gets in 
Italy for the same money, but it is much better than 
I expected. We get our breakfast at the hotel, our 
dinner in the restaurant below and our luncheon 
wherever we happen to be.” 

I like that arrangement,” responded Gabriella; 
it gives a pleasing variety, and is quite different 
from any process of living that we have indulged in.” 
She was perched upon the broad window-sill in their 
room, looking down upon the street. Miss Caven- 
dish was occupied in unpacking her small trunk, 
and Sidney, in the next room, was absorbed in her 
167 


158 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


letters which she found awaiting her. “ Do you 
know what I find rather remarkable?’’ continued 
Gabriella, after watching the passers-by for some 
minutes. “ Here in Amsterdam the people remind 
me of Americans. In Italy one expects to see the 
Latin type prevailing; in Germany one has no 
difficulty in realizing that he is running up against 
the Teuton race; in Switzerland there is no mis- 
taking the fact that you are in a foreign country, 
but if I were to fall asleep in New York and were 
to wake up in Amsterdam I should never know that 
I had crossed the seas unless I looked up at the 
houses, or happened to catch sight of a woman 
with gilt bed-springs over her ears, or a gold plate 
under her cap. So far as the actual physiognomy 
is concerned they might as well be my own towns- 
men.” 

‘‘ That is rather interesting.” Miss Cavendish 
looked up from a small work-box she was emptying 
into her lap. “ I can’t think what I did with those 
buttons. I’ll come and join you, Gabriella, and 
pursue this study of mankind, just as soon as I can 
find that big pearl button that belongs to my grey 
shirt-waist. Where could I have put it? ” 

‘‘ It’s in that little box where you keep your cuff- 
pins,” Gabriella told her. ‘‘ I saw them there when 
I upset the box the other day. Hurry up. Gem, this 
is a fine place for observing the world of Amsterdam. 
To be sure we are rather high up in that world, and 


THREE HUNDRED WINDMILLS 159 


can only get a bird’s-eye view, but it is entertaining 
to look down on the people, and across at the long 
narrow houses with their gable ends toward the 
street; then there are the domes and cupolas and 
clock towers to see. Listen to those carillons. 
That’s the word, isn’t it? Aren’t they fascinating? 
That is one thing that impresses me over here: 
the wonderful chiming of the bells. Shall you ever 
forget how they sounded in Florence? They seem 
to ring out history every hour. Yes, this isn’t a 
bad location, though I am rather sorry we are not 
right on a canal ; still this is very convenient. Where 
to-morrow. Gem? ” 

“ To the Museum, I think, unless you would 
rather explore some of the little places near by; 
there are ever so many of them : Zaandam, Monni- 
kendam, Volendam, Broek, Marken.” 

Let’s take Amsterdam first and sandwich the 
other places between, though I must say I am wild 
to see more of the windmills and dikes that we 
caught sight of as we came along.” 

I think then it would be rather a good plan to 
take the cloudy days for Amsterdam and the bright 
ones for the outside places, as this is not sunny 
Italy, and we may expect rain at any time.” 

We certainly don’t want to visit Marken in the 
rain,” remarked Sidney, coming in, “ and yet we do 
want to see Amsterdam to the best advantage.” 

“ We’ll go to the Museum to-morrow, then, and 


160 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

trust to luck for the next day,” Miss Cavendish 
decided. 

We must have a good, clear and large map,” 
she announced, as they started forth the next morn- 
ing. ‘‘ The one in the guide book is rather small, 
and Amsterdam is not so simply laid out as some of 
the other cities. All these canals are bewildering.” 
The map was secured, and they triumphantly started 
off to find their way on foot to the Rijks Museum. 
It was a cool morning; a stiff breeze was blowing, 
reminding them of their proximity to the sea; over 
the sky flying clouds were scudding, though the 
sun was shining, and the city had that clean, newly 
washed look that seaside cities are likely to present. 
At the first corner Miss Cavendish opened her map 
in order to get her bearings. The map was larger 
than she had supposed, being not smaller than a 
newspaper’s double sheet, and it took the three to 
hold it down, for the fresh breeze flapped it in their 
faces, and threatened to carry it off bodily. As the 
three heads were bent studiously over the labyrinthine 
lines designed to show streets and canals, the atten- 
tion of passers-by was arrested. Here were strangers 
in difficulty, and the kindly spirit of two or three 
was disturbed. One of them approached. Did 
they speak Dutch? ” 

No.” Each stranger shook her head. 

Perhaps French. The speaker knew a little. 
Therefore in French they made known their dilemma. 


THREE HUNDRED WINDMILLS 161 


The shortest way to the Rijks Museum was what 
they wished to discover. The young man gave them 
careful directions. They were to follow the street, 
upon which they were, to a certain corner, then turn 
off till they came to the Park Hotel, and they would 
then have no trouble in finding the Museum. 

They thanked their informant and started off again 
valiantly, feeling quite sure of their way, but they 
had gone only a short distance, the length perhaps 
of two or three blocks, when Miss Cavendish looked 
around with a puzzled expression. “ I am afraid 
that we are off the track,’’ she said hesitatingly. 

We seem to be going around in a circle. You 
know these streets and canals do follow a horse-shoe 
curve. I think we’d better look at the map again 
before we go further.” Therefore the map was 
again unfolded to the breeze and upon its flapping 
surface Miss Cavendish tried to outline their road. 

They were still engaged in a discussion over it, 
and were anxiously looking up and down the street, 
when Sidney clutched Miss Cavendish. “ Here he 
comes,” she cried. 

‘‘ Who? Who? ” asked both the others. 

The young man who showed us the way. Put 
up the map. Let him think we have stopped to tie 
our shoes or that we are interested in the architecture 
of this building — anything.” 

A tumultuous effort was made to fold up the map, 
but in the strong wind it proved itself an obstreperous 


162 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


offender, and was only too plainly in evidence when 
the young man stepped smilingly up to them. There 
was no explanation to be made. Their flag of distress 
was obvious in the flapping map. It was only too 
apparent that they had again lost their way, and when 
the young Dutchman politely offered to pilot them 
they meekly accepted his escort. 

But we shall be taking you out of your way, and 
using your valuable time,’’ expostulated Miss Caven- 
dish, as it became evident that he did not mean to 
lose sight of them till they had reached the very 
doors of the Museum. 

I am not too busy to do the honors of my city,” 
returned their guide. Some day I may be in your 
New York and then I shall be very glad if one of 
your countrymen will show me the way.” And at 
the suggested compensation they had nothing to 
say except to declare that if it might fall to their 
lot, hereafter, to pilot any Dutchman through the 
mazes of New York streets, they would do it grate- 
fully. With a few parting directions the young man 
left them at their destination, and they soon became 
absorbed in the treasures displayed. 

I had no idea that I should like the old Dutch 
masters so well,” said Gabriella, pausing before a 
fine Rembrandt. I fancied an array of burgo- 
masters and juffrouws, painted in a very low key, 
would not specially appeal to me, but they 
are wonderful. Look at those hands; they are 


THREE HUNDRED WINDMILLS 163 


so carefully studied and yet they are painted 
broadly.’’ 

“ You may notice that all these Dutch painters 
were careful of their drawing,” Miss Cavendish 
drew attention to the fact. 

‘‘ I don’t care particularly for their subjects. This 
large gathering of worthy members of guilds isn’t 
so very interesting. I prefer the miles of saints in 
the Italian galleries.” Sidney signified the pictures 
with a comprehensive wave of the hand. 

‘‘ I must confess I like the Dutchmen,” Gabriella 
maintained, and I like Franz Hals particularly. 
Of course the ‘ Night Watch ’ is magnificent ; no 
one can dispute that, but somehow it seems to me 
that Franz Hals combines the best qualities of the 
old school and the modern. There is nothing photo- 
graphic about his work, and yet it doesn’t look like 
a crazy quilt, though it is broadly enough painted 
to suit an impressionist. If I had belonged to the 
honorable guild of cap-makers, or apron-wearers, 
I should have had Franz Hals paint my ‘portrait 
when I was young, and when I became a dear old 
mutterkin in a cap I should have preferred Rem- 
brandt; nobody ever painted old women as he 
did.” 

The clouds which had overclouded the sky when 
they started forth in the morning, now fulfilled their 
promise of rain, and a steady downpour had set in ; 
therefore they concluded to take luncheon in the 


164 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


restaurant attached to the Museum and to continue 
their examination of the many objects of interest at 
hand. 

‘‘ This Museum is a nice, safe, dry place,^’ said 
Miss Cavendish, “ and I think we may as well 
browse around here the rest of the day. There is 
some beautiful old furniture to see.” 

‘‘ And that queer collection of Dutch national 
costumes on life-size figures; we must be sure not 
to miss that,” suggested Sidney. 

It was a day well spent,” Miss Cavendish uttered 
the words as they climbed the steep stairway to their 
rooms, but oh, I am tired,” she added, and I 
am thankful we have no further to go than down- 
stairs for our dinner.” 

I wonder whether all the Dutchmen are as 
good-natured and polite as our little guide,” said 
Gabriella, gazing out of the window at the wet street. 
“ He certainly did exhibit the kindliest interest in 
us. Imagine finding anyone in our rushing America 
who would take the time to do such a favor for a 
party of strangers. They are busy here, but they 
are deliberate in the matter of business, and the 
respite from rush is refreshing. I wonder if we 
shall have seven kinds of cheese for dinner. Gem? ” 
“ Did you like the breakfast? ” 

“ Yes; it was a change from the usual Continental 
breakfast. The coffee was the best I have tasted 
since I left home, and the butter was delicious, but 


THREE HUNDRED WINDMILLS 165 


from such an array of cold meats and cheese it was 
hard to choose, and I ended up by sampling so many 
kinds of cheese that I was rather unhappy for an 
hour afterward. I suppose it was too fresh for 
American digestion. I’ll abstain next time.” 

Amsterdam is rather fascinating, don’t you 
think?” questioned Sidney, joining Gabriella at 
the window. ‘‘ It must be the canals that make it 
so, at least it is partly that. It is something like 
Venice in having so many waterways, though it is 
really not a bit like it, for here the streets provide 
a road on each side the canals and a waterway down 
the middle, while in Venice we rarely had even a 
sidewalk; it was all water.” 

“ That flower market that we saw this morning 
was beautiful,” observed Gabriella; ‘‘all those 
bright flowers in the canal boats reflected in the 
water, and the long shady street. It must be the 
trees, Sid, that make the difference; there are so 
many here, and in Venice scarcely any. For a 
summer day what pleasanter combination than cool 
looking grey and white houses, and shaded streets 
with a canal down the middle. Yes, I am quite 
in love with Amsterdam.” 

The weather did not clear before noon the next 
day, and the contemplated trip to Marken was 
deferred, but Zaandam was discovered to be possible, 
and they complacently sallied forth, Sidney bearing 
her camera, and Gabriella insisting upon conveying 


166 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


a huge loaf of gingerbread. ‘‘You know Amster- 
dam is celebrated for its gingerbread/’ she remarked, 
as she issued from the bake-shop with her package. 
“ They wouldn’t cut this, and so I had to buy it all, 
but it was very cheap, and after looking at those 
three hundred windmills this afternoon, we shall 
probably need something fortifying. If we can’t 
eat it all to-day we can save the rest for to-morrow. 
This sharp sea air gives me an appetite.” 

“ So I have observed,” remarked Sidney. 

Gabriella laughed and they started for the little 
steamer which was to take them to their destination. 
Sidney found abundant opportunity for using her 
camera as they proceeded upon their slow way. 
“ Holland is so nice and fiat,” she observed, “ and 
the air is so clear that I am sure my Holland views 
will turn out well, whatever my Italian ones may do.” 

“ And we are not pestered to death with beggars 
here,” remarked Miss Cavendish, as they stepped 
ashore. But here they were beset by cabmen, who 
persistently followed them and used every persuasion 
to induce them to take a drive to see the three hundred 
windmills. Finding that their repeated refusals 
did no good, the ladies walked rapidly away, though 
one individual, more pertinacious than the rest, 
did not cease his importunity, but kept behind them 
at hailing distance. 

“ He actually is getting on my nerves,” said 
Gabriella at last. “ If he didn’t speak English we 


THREE HUNDRED WINDMILLS 167 


could shut our ears and pretend he was talking about 
the weather. Let us cut through one of these little 
side places and see if we can’t get rid of him.” So 
they made a sudden turn and slipped out of sight 
to find themselves upon a picturesque street inter- 
sected by little canals. Smiling Dutch children 
played before the doors, cleanly housewives scoured 
and scrubbed their brass vessels in the schloats. 

“ This is ideal,” said Sidney focusing her camera 
upon a specially pleasing group. But she had not 
time to take a snap-shot before Gabriella cried, 
“ There he comes ! ” and she looked to see the form 
of their tormentor bearing down upon them. Gabri- 
ella fairly took to her heels, leaving the others to 
add another dignified refusal to those already 
given. 

They found Gabriella laughing behind the palings 
of a fence which enclosed a small garden where she 
had taken refuge. Did you get rid of him?” 
she inquired, “ or is the avenger still upon our 
track? I really didn’t feel that I could face him 
again. Isn’t this an interesting place ? Such pretty 
gardens and such clean houses. Somewhere about 
here is the cottage where Peter the Great lived 
when he was learning ship-building; I caught sight 
of it as I came along. That nice, rosy-cheeked, fat 
little boy, in the wooden shoes, will tell us where it 
is. When we have seen it we will try to escape 
through another street so we shall not have to pass 


168 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

the tormenter again. I know he is lying in wait for 
us.’’ 

Miss Cavendish laughed. ‘‘ Gabriella has really 
a panic. I think it is rather funny myself. I don’t 
in the least mind saying no whenever it is necessary.” 

“ Ah, but you have had chances to say no so much 
oftener than I,” complained Gabriella. The rosy- 
cheeked child who stood staring at them could not 
withstand the smile which she gave him and, after 
accepting a large piece of the gingerbread, he pointed 
the way to the cottage of Peter the Great. 

A circuitous route took them to the other end of 
the quiet clean town where scrubbing and scouring 
were going on incessantly, outside the small houses. 
Windmills flung around their arms in every direc- 
tion ; in the lush green meadows beyond the town neat 
black and white cows were quietly grazing; groups 
of blue-aproned, tow- headed children frolicked un- 
restrained in the streets. Everyone appeared serenely 
content. 

It is just as placidly Dutch as I believed it would 
be,” began Gabriella. ‘‘ Now, if we can get back 
to the boat without being importuned to take a 
drive — ” 

Ladies, you will just have time for a ride around 
the town to see the three hundred windmills before 
your boat goes,” said a voice at her elbow. She 
gave a little surprised scream and dashed on, leaving 
Miss Cavendish so full of laughter that she could 


THREE HUNDRED WINDMILLS 169 


scarcely rebuff the persistent man who cheerfully 
travelled along within a few feet of her to the very 
door of the waiting-room. 

If only he wouldn’t speak English,” groaned 
Gabriella, '' and if he wouldn’t have that way with 
him as if he fully meant to keep up his arguments 
until we actually had to give in, I wouldn’t care. 
When he startled me by that last appearance every 
hair on my head began to rise. What did you say, 
Sidney? ” 

I said that this is the wrong landing. We came 
down on that steamer that is waiting on the other 
side. Evidently the first-class steamers come in at 
one wharf and the second-class at the other.” 

Oh, then if this is second-class let us go from here. 
I don’t mind, do you? Anything rather than cross 
that bridge again.” 

But our tickets aren’t for this line,” explained 
Miss Cavendish. 

Oh ! ” Gabriella meekly gave in and they 
essayed to return. But just as they reached the end 
of the bridge there stood their man. He pointed in 
triumph to the steamer now slowly leaving her 
dock. “ You’ll not get your steamer, ladies,” he 
said. ‘‘ There will not be another leaving for an 
hour, and you’ll just have time for a — ” Gabriella 
stopped her ears and ran on wildly, not stopping till 
she was safe at the pier. 

I really couldn’t hear him mention those three 


170 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


hundred windmills again,” she declared. We are 
safe now, for no one can come inside the gates without 
a ticket and we shall have a lovely time taking 
photographs and eating our gingerbread.” But 
the delectable food disproved its appearance, for 
it was by no means as good as it looked. “ And I 
thought it was going to be delicious,” said Gabriella, 
looking ruefully at the large supply she had bought. 
‘‘We can’t eat it; I can’t bear to throw it away, 
and I don’t believe there are any poor people in 
Holland; I haven’t seen any who couldn’t make 
better gingerbread than this. I wish I had tasted 
it at once and then I could have given it to the goat 
we saw at the other end of the town. Nothing but 
a goat could make way with this.” 

“ Leave it on the bench when we go,” suggested 
Sidney, “ and then you will not know what becomes 
of it.” 

“ That is a good idea,” returned Gabriella. But 
she was not permitted to follow out her plan, for 
upon stepping upon the gangplank a workman 
perceived the package, rushed back and politely 
handed it to her. She gave him a weak “ Thank 
you,” and cast upon her friends such a look as made 
them laugh every time they recalled it. “ Perhaps 
they don’t have gingerbread at Marken,” Gabriella 
had a sudden inspiration. “ I will take it down there 
to-morrow and give it to some youngster.” Even 
this privilege was denied her, for she forgot it in 


THREE HUNDRED WINDMILLS 171 


the hurry of getting off, and the final disposition of 
the gingerbread was never settled, for they left it 
upon the table when at last they took their departure 
from their rooms. 

“ Marken was rather disappointing,’’ Miss Caven- 
dish gave her opinion as they set out upon their 
return from this far-famed island the next day. 

It is so evidently a show place now-a-days. The 
people pose for effect, and even the rapturous woman 
who threw her arms around us when we told her we 
were Americans, was simply a good actress.” 

‘‘But the littlest of the boys and girls do still dress 
exactly alike,” asserted Gabriella, who did not wish 
her illusions to vanish, “ and they do have a queer 
costume.” 

“ And their^cottages are most interesting, I am 
sure,” Sidney agreed with Gabriella. “ And the 
little caps I bought are genuine. I did want to get 
those so I could show them to grandfather. I shall 
have to label them at once before I forget whether 
it is the round patch on the back or the square one 
which is for the boys.” 

“ It is a desolate place, that island,” Miss Caven- 
dish went on. “I shouldn’t like to live there in 
winter.” 

“ But Monnikendam is dear,” said Sidney. “ I 
simply love that sleepy old place.” 

“ And Broek is exactly like Spotless Town,” 
continued Gabriella. 


172 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ We must go to Alkmaar on market day/^ decided 
Miss Cavendish. ‘‘ I fancy there we shall see more 
costumes, and get an idea of the people more satis- 
factorily than by taking these special excursions, 
which I am sure the fisher folk prepare for. I sup- 
pose if we were to seek out the unfrequented villages 
there would still be much in Holland which would 
appeal to us.’^ 

‘‘ I think we have been able to get an excellent 
idea of Holland in the little while we have been 
here,^^ Sidney assured her. 

We might stay another day, perhaps, if you 
have seen enough of schloats and windmills and all 
that. We can take in The Hague on our way to 
Antwerp.’^ 

This was agreed upon and then, with a distinct 
recollection of the quality of the gingerbread in a 
certain bake-shop and of the fact that there were 
three hundred windmills in Zaandam, they sought 
their beds. 


CHAPTER XII 


A TEMPEST IN AN INK-BOTTLE 

‘‘ I HAD no idea we should find Antwerp so interest- 
ing/^ said Sidney a few days later. “ Holland I 
expected to be all that it proved ; a fascinating place 
where one would like to spend an entire summer.’^ 

‘‘ And where they charge more for laundry work 
than any place within my experience/’ replied Miss 
Cavendish, looking up from her accounts; though 
as for the rest of our expenses, they fell far below 
what I was given to suppose. Our week here has 
cost us about thirteen dollars apiece; that includes 
our little side trips and our tickets to Antwerp.” 

It doesn’t seem possible that it could be done 
so cheaply,” returned Sidney, who never could 
understand how Miss Cavendish managed to keep 
their expenses within the limit she had set for them. 

“If it were anyone else but our clever Gem who 
was our -personal conductor,” said Gabriella, “it 
could not be done. It is because we have her and 
because we don’t go to the caravansaries.” 

“ And because we buy such cheap gingerbread,” 
added Sidney, slyly. 

“ Oh, now — ” Gabriella began. 

173 


174 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ There is a little suggestion of French life here/^ 
Miss Cavendish went on, not heeding these side 
remarks. It isn’t quite as sedate as Amsterdam. 
I agree with you, Sidney, that there is much to 
attract one.” 

“ Including this excellent pension with its pretty 
little garden.” 

“ And its funny milk-carts with those dear, good, 
hard-working dogs to draw them,” continued Gabri- 
ella. 

It is really a very important city, historically, 
commercially and artistically,” Miss Cavendish went 
on. We shall find plenty of Rubens’ pictures here, 
his masterpieces, too. The cathedral is specially 
rich in paintings, and there is a remarkable carved 
pulpit there which we must not forget to see. St. 
Jacques is also a splendid church; the stained 
glass there is remarkably good. You see I have 
informed myself upon the sights of the city.” 

‘‘What shall we find at the Academy?” asked 
Gabriella. 

“ Rubens, and still more Rubens, with a number 
of other examples of good work.” 

“ Then I foresee that we shall spend several days 
here very satisfactorily,” Sidney predicted. 

Time proved the truth of this, for it was the end 
of the week before they were ready to leave Antwerp’s 
interesting streets, where quaint old shops crowding 
splendid churches lured them to purchase precious 



‘“IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT CITY, HISTORICALLY, COMMER- 


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A TEMPEST IN AN INK-BOTTLE 175 


laces, rare old silver, and fascinating antiques of 
all kinds. 

“ I shall not have a penny left for Paris if I keep 
on,’’ sighed Gabriella, “ and there is Brussels yet 
to be considered.” 

But you may not want to spend anything there,” 
Sidney comforted her by saying. I am told that 
one gets better laces here for the money, and that it 
is all a delusion that Paris prices do not obtain in 
Brussels. It may have been so at one time, but unless 
you know just where to go you can do better in 
Paris.” 

‘‘ There are a dozen places it would be worth 
while to visit,” remarked Miss Cavendish, when 
they were on their way to Brussels, “ but as long 
as we are simply skimming the cream very lightly, 
we shall have to leave them out. There are Treves 
and Bruges, for example, I should like much to 
see them. Treves is probably the oldest city this 
side the Alps, and claims to be older than Rome. 
Its history is exceedingly interesting. Bruges is a 
fine old city, too, full of things we would like to 
see.” 

‘‘ Some day in my Methuselah incarnation,” 
announced Gabriella, I shall come to Europe and 
visit all the small, no ’count towns. I think we could 
find a great many curious things in some of the places 
which nobody ever hears of, and which the guide- 
books pass over. Antwerp is not lacking in pleasant 


176 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


things to hear about. I like the story of Quentin 
Matsys, who gave up his trade of blacksmith in order 
to become an artist and marry an artist’s daughter. 
One never knows what hidden treasures may lie 
under ‘ hodden grey.’ That blue blouse yonder 
may cover the heart of a poet.” 

I liked that about the five hundred New Testa- 
ments, and all that about Tyndale, who sold his 
whole edition to the Bishop of London and paid his 
debts, and then when the bishop had burned the 
books Tyndale promptly brought out a more perfect 
edition. I always like to hear of those wily old 
political tyrants being outwitted. What story did 
you like best. Gem? ” 

I think the legend of St. Genoveva of Treves is 
delightful, though that takes us some distance from 
Antwerp. You remember that she was banished 
to the woods by the intrigues of Golo, Siegfried’s 
steward, and there her little boy was bom, whom 
she named Sorrowful. His woodland nurse was a 
gentle hind. After seven years Siegfried and his 
friends were out hunting, and pursued the hind, 
whom they started up from her covert. When at 
last they came up to it they found a lovely boy stand- 
ing closely clasping the creature’s neck. Then a 
fair woman appeared, whom Siegfried recognized 
as his beloved and wronged wife. She was able to 
vindicate herself from the charges of unfaithfulness 
which Golo had caused to be made against her and 


A TEMPEST IN AN INK-BOTTLE 177 


was restored to her husband. After her death she 
was canonized.’’ 

That is a pretty tale,” agreed Sidney. 

Brussels is so modern that we shall have to go 
on a pilgrimage in order to find its ancient streets, 
I fancy.” Gabriella expressed this opinion as they 
bowled along the wide boulevards of the city. 

“ We shall not have to go far,” Miss Cavendish 
told her, for the Grand Place where the Hotel de 
Ville stands is the very centre of historical interest.” 

“ We’ll go there first thing, then, shall we? What 
do you most care to see, Gabriella? ” 

“ Her beauty and her chivalry. There is some of 
the beauty, in that carriage. And oh, what a fine 
building. What is it? ” She put her query to the 
driver. 

‘‘ Le Palais de Justice,” he told her. 

“ We must not fail to go there. I begin to observe 
that Brussels, like most of the other spots we have 
visited, is worth while.” And it was several days 
before the sights of the upper and lower town had 
been viewed, even hastily. The cathedral with its 
magnificent stained glass; the Palais de la Nation; 
the Hotel de Ville, where they happened to be in 
time to witness a grand wedding; the Bois de la 
Cambre, where they sat and listened to the band 
play while they observed fashion in carriages and 
the rest of the world on foot; these were but a 
few of the things that occupied their attention. 


178 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


Miss Cavendish, as usual, was fascinated by the 
laces, and, having discovered a little shop where 
moderate prices prevailed, she was beguiled into 
adding to her purchases an extremely beautiful 
bertha. 

Um ! Um ! exclaimed Gabriella, when it was 
displayed to her envious eyes, ‘‘ I’d like to be the 
fellow to wear that.” 

Perhaps you will be,” returned her godmother. 

‘‘ Why, Isabella Cavendish, what do you mean ? 
Explain yourself, if you please.” 

I mean that I am buying this for a wedding 
present. It shall be for the first one of the party who 
requires it for a wedding gown.” 

Lovely ! ” exclaimed Gabriella. ‘‘ I’ll try my 
best to be the one who earns it.” 

“ Oh, dear, I didn’t mean to set a premium on 
marrying; that wasn’t my idea at all. I only 
thought of its being a suggestive gift for one of you 
girls when the time came, because of the association. 
Lace will keep, you know, and I am in no hurry to 
get rid of it, I assure you.” 

Gabriella looked at the delicate point with longing 
eyes. “ I don’t intend to let you have it, Sid,” she 
declared, “ for you can afford to buy slathers of lace 
for your wedding gown, while I shall never have 
another chance like this.” 

Sidney laughed. How terribly in earnest the 
child is,” she said. I’ll tell you what we can do, 


A TEMPEST IN AN INK-BOTTLE 179 


Rella, we’ll make the compact that it is to be worn 
by each of us. Whoever has it first will lend it to 
the others as the occasion requires.” 

Others? ” exclaimed Miss Cavendish. “ Please 
leave me out of the question.” 

Indeed we will not,” Sidney spoke with decision. 
“I prophesy that you will be the very first to require it.” 

‘‘ It is a lovely scheme,” Gabriella agreed, and as 
I intend to marry nothing less than an American 
multi-millionaire or a wealthy Birmingham manu- 
facturer with a bran-new title, it will be I who shall 
need it first.” 

We’ll not quarrel over it,” said Miss Cavendish, 
laughing as she returned the lace to its wrappings. 
‘‘ This is positively my last purchase of lace for this 
trip. Please bear me witness, girls.” 

Although Brussels’ attractions continued to occupy 
their time, the prospect of Paris absorbed their 
thoughts and they suddenly decided to set their faces 
toward the American heaven.” 

‘‘ I have sensations, distinct sensations,” Gabriella 
announced. ‘‘ My hands are cold and there are 
creepy feelings running up and down my spine. In 
five minutes we shall be in Paris, with the Latin 
quarter contiguous, so to speak, and the Louvre 
within comfortable distance.” 

‘‘ I hope your creepy feelings don’t mean that 
you have taken cold,” remarked Miss Cavendish, 
practically. 


180 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


“ Oh, dear, no ; they are purely mental effects. 
There, we have stopped. Do you dare get out. Gem, 
and project yourself into the hands of a Parisian 
cab-driver ? I am scared to death of them and don^t 
dare to lift my eyelids till we get fairly started out 
of the station. Have we everything? Oh! ’’ This 
last exclamation was due to the fact that Miss 
Cavendish was interviewing a respectable-looking 
interpreter, who agreed for the sum of one franc to 
put their luggage through the customs, get them a 
cab and see them safely started for the proper 
address. 

“It is worth double the amount to be freed from 
responsibility,’^ acknowledged Miss Cavendish, who, 
on this occasion, was a little nervous. “ I have 
something the feeling that Daniel must have had 
when he entered the lions’ den. I wonder if we shall 
ever have the courage to venture into the streets of 
Paris alone.” 

“ We have done it ever)rwhere else,” Gabriella 
rejoined, “ and we have never been gobbled up.” 

“ I suppose it is exceedingly silly and provincial 
to feel as if Paris were more dangerous than any 
other city, and no doubt I shall recover my equilib- 
rium as soon as I get my bearings,” Miss Cavendish 
assured her charges. “ Don’t lose faith in me, girls, 
because I employed an interpreter.” 

“ It would take more than a dozen interpreters 
to make us lose faith in you,” they insisted, loyally. 


A TEMPEST IN AN INK-BOTTLE 181 


It is beautiful. It isn’t in the least disappoint- 
ing,” Gabriella exclaimed suddenly. We are 
coming to the fine part of the city. This must be 
the Champs Elysees. There is the Arc d’Etoile, 
isn’t it? Are we to be near that, then? ” 

“ I think so,” returned Miss Cavendish, a little 
uncertainly. Yes, this is our street,” as they turned 
off the great thoroughfare. 

Good ! Then we shall see the driving and the 
crowds and all that.” 

‘‘But you must remember that the gay season is 
over and what we shall see of Paris will not be the 
fashion and the show of spring and autumn.” 

“ We shall see enough, no doubt,” returned 
Gabriella, nothing discouraged. 

Madame, their landlady, was a typical French- 
woman, who greeted them in voluble French and 
assigned them their rooms with a business-like air. 
The rooms were not large, but were comfortable 
and looked out upon a long green court. “ This is 
better than I could have believed,” asserted Miss 
Cavendish. “ I rather inclined toward the Luxem- 
bourg quarter till Miss Bailey advised me to come 
here, for, as she said, the air is better and it will 
be cooler in case we have hot weather. I suppose we 
should perhaps see more of the life of the streets on 
the other side of the city, but, upon the whole, I am 
inclined to think that we have chosen wisely.” 

“ At least,” said Sidney, “ we have not five or six 


182 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


long flights to climb, for this is only the second floor 
from the street.’’ 

Gabriella was reading a note which the maid had 
just brought her. ‘‘ The Baileys have arrived,” she 
remarked. 

“ How did you find that out? ” Sidney asked in 
surprise. 

“ From this note,” returned Gabriella. 

Miss Bailey is writing to you? What for? ” 

“ I didn’t say the note was from Miss Bailey,” 
replied Gabriella, blushing furiously. 

“ Gabriella, Gabriella, remember the multi-mil- 
lionaire, or the Birmingham manufacturer,” warned 
Sidney. But Gabriella only laughed and thrust the 
note inside her blouse. 

Sidney looked at her suspiciously. ‘‘You let that 
Briton know when and where we were coming,” 
she said. 

“ Well, not exactly as you put it,” Gabriella made 
reply. “ He wrote to ask, — that was when we were 
in Antwerp, — and I answered when it was decided 
that we should be here the first of this week, and I 
furthermore told him that we were coming to a 
house recommended by Miss Bailey. I didn’t sup- 
pose I should find a note here, though it was natural 
enough, as he is not three squares away.” 

“ For pity’s sake,” exclaimed Miss Cavendish. 
“ Is this to be a repetition of Florence, Gabriella ? 
What is the object of his writing to you? ” 


A TEMPEST IN AN INK-BOTTLE 183 


‘‘ He wants us all to go to the Salon with him. It 
will be open only a few days longer, and he wanted 
me to know that. I am sure it is very decent of 
him.” 

So it is,” returned Miss Cavendish, somewhat 
mollified, “ but I do hope, Gabriella, that you will 
not lead that young man a dance.” 

‘‘ Oh, bless you, no. We are on very good terms 
with England, so there is no reason why I should 
try to revenge myself for any of the offences of his 
forefathers. I don’t bear any grudge because of 
taxation without representation.” 

“ But you simply cannot help flirting.” 

Oh yes, I can ; I have helped it on occasions.” 

‘‘ Then let this be one of the occasions.” 

Gabriella looked up at her with a little inscrutable 
smile and set to work to arrange her belongings. 
During this process she placed a travelling ink-bottle 
upon the table which stood directly in front of the 
window and upon a level with the sill. In reaching 
for something upon the other side of the table the 
bottle was overturned, and before anyone could 
rescue it, over it fell, rolled out, and dropped with a 
crash into the court below, breaking into fragments. 
The effect was electrifying. In an instant there was 
excited voices raised above and below stairs; heads 
were thrust from the windows; the concierge, with 
angry gesticulations, consulted his wife; even a 
gendarme appeared to add to the general excitement. 


184 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


Did they think it was dynamite, or what?” 
questioned Gabriella in dismay. 

At this instant there was a peremptory knock at 
the door. A maid, with flustered manner and red 
face, appeared. Madame wished to know the occa- 
sion of the disaster. How did it happen ? 

Each with the best French that she could summon 
tried to explain. It was an accident; the bottle 
had rolled out, they tried to tell her. Had anyone 
been hurt? Was any damage done? 

“ No, they were assured, but — ” Here came a 
long speech spoken in such rapid utterance that they 
could not exactly follow, nor could they gather why 
the matter should so stir up the whole household. 
The maid was evidently not satisfied, for she took 
herself off still talking. 

Presently another appeared. This one was Eng- 
lish. Madame wished to know where the bottle was 
standing when the accident occurred. Had it been 
placed upon the window-sill? 

No, no,” returned Miss Cavendish, “ it was 
upon the table. As you can see, it is very easy for 
anything to roll out.” 

‘‘ Ah-h ! ” A smile of satisfaction overspread 
Betty’s face. Then it was all right. Perhaps the 
ladies did not know that it was against the law to 
place anything upon the window-sill, in case of 
danger to the passers-by. She would explain. 

She withdrew and the report was taken to those 


A TEMPEST IN AN INK-BOTTLE 185 


below, the gesticulating and red-faced concierge 
subsided; the interested bystanders who had con- 
gregated slouched back into the street; the heads 
disappeared from the windows, and all was serene 
again. 

Did you ever know such a tempest in an ink- 
bottle?’’ exclaimed Sidney. “One would suppose 
that we had at least made an attempt to blow up 
the Louvre, or had tried to assassinate the president, 
and all because an ink-bottle fell out of the win- 
dow.” 

“ Yes, but isn’t it French to get so excited over 
it?” laughed Miss Cavendish. “As soon as they 
discovered that we had not flagrantly broken a law, 
the circumstance ceased to interest them.” 

“ All the same, with their ‘ liberte, fraternite and 
egalite, there will be no one brotherly enough to give 
me a new ink-bottle,” complained Gabriella. “ I 
don’t suppose I can ever get such a nice, complete 
American contrivance as it was. All the time they 
were fussing over the matter I was feeling aggrieved 
at my loss.” 

“ But it really might have injured some one if it 
had fallen upon a French head,” said Sidney. 

“ It wouldn’t have been my fault,” returned 
Gabriella, still aggrieved, “ though I suppose I 
would have had the blame fixed upon me after the 
manner of the French, who do not give foot-passengers 
the right of way, but, when these are run down by 


186 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


an impudent cabby, make them pay a fine for getting 
in the way, even if they are broken to bits.’’ 

Do you mean in pocket? ” asked Sidney. 

“ That from you, Sidney Shaw ! I didn’t expect 
it. Wait till you get out into the streets and are in 
a hurly burly of automobiles, cabs and omnibuses, 
and while you are trying to get out of the way a vile 
cab-driver deliberately makes for you, then you’ll 
not make sickly puns.” 

In response to this lecture, Sidney acknowledged 
that she had been sinfully flippant. “ That is why,” 
Gabriella went on, I answered Taffy’s note. I 
knew we should feel the need of a protector in this 
wicked city. I think it would be well if you and 
Gem were each to look out for one, for I am not sure 
that one will go around.” 

“ After which crafty remark I think you would 
better get ready for dinner,” suggested Miss Caven- 
dish. Speak for yourself and Sidney; I can get 
along by myself.” 

And I made the sacrifice of meeting that Briton 
again simply on your account,” returned Gabriella. 

“You outrageous falsifier ! ” exclaimed Miss 
Cavendish. 

Gabriella laughed, but it was noticed that she 
dressed with unusual care that evening. 


CHAPTER XIII 


HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RUSSIAN ” 

There was no lack of cheerful and even enter- 
taining chatter at Madame Morelle’s table. Her 
house was a popular one, for it offered many attrac- 
tions to the sojourner in Paris ; the rooms were clean, 
the table, if not lavishly spread, was adequate, though 
the usual French economies were apparent, and the 
prices were very moderate. Madame, herself, was 
thoroughly French, quick, excitable, ready to take 
offence at slight provocation, but kind-hearted and 
an excellent manager. That quiet which is a dis- 
tinguishing mark of gentility did not pervade her 
establishment. If Madame shut a door she slammed 
it; if she gave an order it was heard up and down 
stairs; if she chided it was with such violence that 
the trembling maids cringed before her and hastened 
away at the first chance of escape ; yet they adored 
her and imitated her in a small way, though Nanette^s 
voice was silver sweet, and the smiling little Nor- 
mandy peasant, Marie, could not have scared a 
kitten. Madame was a dressy person of large 
presence, who sailed around her premises in elaborate 
matinees before the dejeuner and appeared in elegant 

187 


188 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


costumes at dinner, her loud-voiced volubility an- 
nouncing her arrival wherever she went. 

At table Gabriella found herself placed by the 
side of a young Russian, while Sidney’s next neighbor 
was a Dutchman who wore a large seal ring upon 
his forefinger. Miss Cavendish sat between the two 
girls and had for her vis-a-vis the elder Miss Bailey, 
whose chair crowded that of a little angular American 
school-marm who spoke French with such a decided 
Yankee accent that Gabriella dared not look at her 
friends after first hearing her speak. A bluff old 
Yorkshireman with a deep rolling voice and hearty 
manner came next, and beyond these the company 
presented the same variety of nationalities ending 
at the head of the long table with Madame Morelle 
herself, who kept up a lively conversation accom- 
panied by many expressive little shrieks, rollings of 
eyes and shrugs of shoulders. 

After dinner it was the custom of the boarders to 
repair to the pretty little salon which Madame 
assured her newly arrived guests was at the disposal 
of those who wished to occupy it. The young Dutch- 
man followed Sidney to a quiet corner to continue the 
conversation favorably begun at the table. Miss 
Bailey drew Gabriella to her side, while Miss Mildred 
engaged Miss Cavendish’s attention. The entrance 
of Owen Morgan put an end to all this, for he 
insisted upon taking all his friends out for a ride on 
top of an omnibus to see the boulevards by night. 


MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RUSSIAN” 189 


He had greeted them all as if they were old friends, 
though Gabriella stiffened ever so slightly at his 
appropriation of herself as a matter of course. Miss 
Bailey declared that she did not know that Mildred 
ought to go, but that young creature with a petulant 
air pouted and bridled until her sister gave in, though 
insisting that she would prefer to stay at home. 
She made it known that she did not like to climb to 
the top of an omnibus, and that she did not care to 
stay below by herself. It seemed a matter difficult 
to adjust until the young Dutchman threw himself 
into the breach and offered to sit below if Sidney 
would bear him company, and thus it was arranged. 

“You are a dear,” said Gabriella to Sidney as 
they went to get their hats. “You will miss the best 
of it by not being above, but I will change with you 
coming back. How does the Dutchman happen to 
go with us? ” 

“ Mr. Morgan invited him, for it seems that Miss 
Bailey knows something about him.” 

“ What is his name, anyhow, and where did he 
get his ring? Is he a burgomaster or something? 
He looks exactly like some of those portraits in the 
Museum at Amsterdam. I suppose his name is van 
Stecklenhorst or Sniff elberger.” 

“ It is van Schepel.” 

“ That’s not quite so bad. I knew it had to be a 
van something on account of that monster ring. 
Can he speak intelligible English? ” 


190 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


“ Oh, yes, he can do fairly well, and, like most 
foreigners, he is eager to improve his opportunities. 
I think that is why he has fastened upon us ; we are 
but agents in the matter of his education.” 

“ Oh ! ” Gabriella looked incredulous, but Sid- 
ney evidently considered that she had discovered the 
facts in the case. 

It was a warm night and the boulevards were 
thronged. Every little table on the sidewalks ap- 
peared to be occupied. At the brilliantly lighted 
caf6s crowds were gathered; carriages dashed up 
and down, automobiles shot ahead of the rumbling 
’buses. 

Isn’t it gay? ” Gabriella turned to speak to her 
companion. ‘‘Why, where is Miss Cavendish?” 
she asked in surprise. 

“ There were not seats enough above,” Mr. 
Morgan told her, “ and you know you ran up 
ahead of us all, so I am deputed to look after 
you.” 

“ Dear me, I thought the man said ‘ quatre 
place.’ ” 

“ So he did, but some others held tickets.” 

“ Oh, dear, I didn’t mean to oust Gem out of a 
place ; I supposed she was directly behind me. Can’t 
we make room for just one more ? There, some one 
is getting off ? ” 

“ If you prefer,” returned Mr. Morgan a little 
stiffly, “ I will go and notify Miss Cavendish, though 


“MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RUSSIAN’’ 191 


I may lose my place meanwhile, and you would be 
left up here unprotected.” 

“ I don’t know that I should mind that,” answered 
Gabriella perversely. 

“ But this is Paris. Would you elect to travel 
around New York or Washington by yourself alone 
at night? ” 

“ Oh, dear, yes,” returned the girl flippantly. 
“It is my common custom. ” And to her delight 
Mr. Morgan looked shocked. “ You know American 
girls always do as they please,” she went on. “ Of 
course we carry pistols whenever we go out, for if 
we stay out after midnight we might be held up by 
a highwayman; they are so frequently met with, 
you know. I remember once when a pair of banditti 
demanded my money or my life I had forgotten to 
load my pistol before I started out, and I simply 
scared them off by a bluff.” 

“ Gabriella, what are you talking about? ” came 
a voice from the other side of the bench. “ Mr. 
Morgan, she is simply fooling you,” said Miss 
Cavendish, who had taken the one place unobserved 
by the other two. 

“ Why, Gem, how did you get up here ? ” exclaimed 
Gabriella. 

“ I noticed that some one had made room for me, 
and so I came up to join you. What cock-and-bull 
story was she telling you, Mr. Morgan? Has she 
been trying to make you believe that American 


192 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

girls go around at night at will without proper 
escort? ’’ 

“ Something like that/^ he admitted. 

But why try to produce that impression, Gabri- 
ella? ” Miss Cavendish inquired. 

Oh, because Englishmen are so dense and it 
is so easy to fool them into thinking extreme things 
about us,^’ returned Gabriella, laughing. 

Am I dense? ” asked Mr. Morgan. 

Sometimes,’’ Gabriella did not hesitate to say. 

If an English girl had told one of our men such a 
tale as that he would have matched it with something 
a little stronger instead of half believing it.” 

“ Ah, but you see an English girl would never 
have dreamed of doing such a thing,” replied Mr. 
Morgan, as if that settled it. 

“ I believe you,” returned Gabriella fervently. 
And here they reached the cafe toward which they 
were bound. 

Isn’t it fun?” Gabriella was nothing if not 
appreciative. ‘‘I am so glad to see Paris by night. 
It is what I longed to do. I think I shall like to spend 
half my time on top of the omnibuses.” 

They seated themselves at tables before a small 
cafe, where ices were served them, and where a 
strange drink termed limonade gazeuse ” took the 
place of an American lemonade or an English 

lemon squash.” At their leisure they watched the 
passing crowds, which seemed only to increase as 


MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RUSSIAN’’ 193 


the hour grew later. It is splendid,” said Gabriella 
as they made ready to go, but — ” 

But what? ” Mr. Morgan asked. 

‘‘ It isn’t Italy.” 

That is what Gabriella always says,” Sidney 
remarked. As if we expected it would be Italy. 
She is Italy daft and nothing less than a villa at 
Sorrento and an orange grove will ever satisfy her.” 

I am thinking of buying one,” said Gabriella 
nonchalantly. Mamma would like the life, I am 
sure. I need only give up a few things, you know; 
a few utterly unnecessary things like more diamonds 
and a new automobile, and my yacht. I should like 
to try one of those row-boats where the men stand 
up and row; they look so picturesque, and I have 
no doubt I can get a villa quite cheaply.” 

Miss Cavendish, bit her lip and shook her head at 
the girl, who at this silent admonition only chattered 
on. 

I think I must get Signor Rondinelli to look out 
for a bargain for me.” 

Mr. Morgan glanced at the young Dutchman, 
who was listening interestedly, and then he looked 
gravely at Gabriella, who answered with an innocent 
smile. No,” she said, addressing him, I shall 
never be quite happy to live anywhere but in Italy. 
I wonder I have been so long finding it out.” 

It must be time to go,” said Miss Bailey, who 
had been only half listening to this talk. ‘‘ We shall 


194 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


be locked out and shall have to ring up the concierge, 
and he is so cross.” 

His wife is worse,” returned Sidney; I always 
rush past her so that I may avoid her black looks. 
I think she knows we are the ones who allowed the 
ink-bottle to roll out the window.” 

She lacks a sense of humor,” said Gabriella, 
as she and Mr. Morgan led the way up the bright 
boulevard. 

I believe you Americans charge us with a lack 
of humor,” Mr. Morgan ventured to say. 

‘‘ I don’t think I am capable of judging, having 
never been in England. You are the first English- 
man I have ever known.” 

‘‘ And my sense of humor is weak? ” 

How shall I test it ? Let me see, you have rather 
a pretty wit at times, as they used to say. Do you 
enjoy Alice in Wonderland? ” 

I certainly do.” 

Then you stand outside the ban. I simply adore 
Alice.” 

“ I am delighted that you agree with me on that 
one point.” 

Don’t I always agree with you? ” 

Seldom. Except at San Miniato I can recall 
but few instances.” 

“ And I suppose in your lordly Briton way you 
like girls to agree with you; to be very sweet and 
say ‘ Quite so,’ or, ‘ Fancy,’ or ‘ Ow,’ and allow you to 


‘‘MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RUSSIAN^’ 195 


do most of the talking. Have you the English opinion 
which insists that Americans talk too much? ’’ 

Mr. Morgan considered the question with gravity. 
“ I think some of them talk more than is necessary/’ 
he answered guardedly. “ At times I have met 
those who would be more charming if they added a 
little repose to their manner.” 

“ And a little more softness to their quality of 
voice.” 

“ Quite so.” 

“ And no doubt you like a floppy, flowing 
style of dress.” Gabriella began to wax indig- 
nant. 

“ No, I like the way American girls dress. I can 
always tell them from English girls.” 

“ How do you distinguish us, pray? ” 

“ By your belts,” said Mr. Morgan, confidentially. 
“ American girls always wear their belts so they go 
up in the back and down in front, and English 
girls wear theirs in just the opposite way.” 

Gabriella laughed gleefully. 

“ And you have a way of putting on your veils 
which no other girls can imitate,” continued Mr. 
Morgan, “ and you wear less jewelry, trinkets and 
chains and things, you know.” 

“ I have noticed that,” returned Gabriella, 
“ though I don’t think that can be said of all 
Americans ; some women are overloaded even when 
they are not in the drawing-room.” 


196 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


“ But surely jewels are very feminine. You 
wouldn’t have women discard them, would you ? ” 
No, but I would have them wear such ornaments 
only upon appropriate occasions.” 

‘‘ Ow ! ” Mr. Morgan was pondering over this 
as Gabriella fell back that she might join Miss 
Cavendish. 

We are discussing the differences between the 
English and the Americans,” Gabriella informed 
her friend. 

‘‘But why discuss?” rejoined Miss Cavendish. 
“ We don’t pretend to be alike. Why should we be ? 
It is the very distinctive difference which makes the 
charm. One doesn’t want England to be America, 
else one might as well stay at home. I have no 
patience with Anglomaniacs. We can love and 
admire the English without slavishly aping them. 
Why should an American persist in calling stables 
‘ mews,’ and roofs ‘ leads,’ when it is not the cus- 
tom to do so in her own country? It is deadly 
affected, and those who try to out-English the English 
seem to me to be either ashamed of their own country 
or to desire to make themselves laughing-stocks.” 

“ I quite agree with you,” returned Mr. Morgan. 
“ Americans are unaffectedly breezy and are charm- 
ing enough for anyone. Why they should ever wish 
to be neither one thing nor the other I fail to see. 
When one lives in a country it is sometimes advisable 
to adopt certain expressions, but these need not be 


MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RUSSIAN” 197 


extreme ones, and such adoptions are usually of 
slow growth.” 

“ Then I may keep my American vocabulary, 
may I? ” said Gabriella laughing. 

“ Pray do, if you want to preserve your individ- 
uality,” Mr. Morgan returned. 

Oh, Vwe not the faintest ambition to be English,” 
returned the girl with a little toss of her head. 

‘‘What did make you so contrary to-night?” 
Miss Cavendish asked her when they had reached 
their room. 

“ Was I contrary? I don’t know that I was.” 

“ You certainly tried to give Mr. Morgan a wrong 
impression of yourself.” 

“ He is such an excellent subject for my imagina- 
tion to work upon, and you know I told you I meant 
to pretend that I was the heiress.” 

“ Do you want him to think that? ” 

“ Certainly. Why not? ” 

“ I didn’t know,” returned Miss Cavendish feebly. 
“ He seems such an honest, single-hearted young 
man; it seems rather a shame to jolly him.” 

“ It wasn’t all on his account. There was the 
Dutchman, you know. I am seized with a wild 
yearning for that monster ring. I would wrap a cord 
around it and wear it on my thumb, if I had it. I 
think I must ask Sidney to change places with me 
at table so I can feast my eyes on that marvel. 
Wouldn’t it be lovely to get him to teach me Dutch 


198 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

and have him point out the words with his fore- 
finger? ’’ 

“ Gabriella, you are the silliest child I know. I 
don’t wonder the girls at school used to call you 
Gaby. Would you entice that poor unsuspecting 
young Dutchman into your toils? ” 

For the sake of the ring I shall have to do it, 
if I can. I did have designs upon that barbarous, 
wide-mouthed Russian who sits next me, but unhap- 
pily I asked him if he drank Japanese tea and he 
hasn’t spoken to me since. I may try to reinstate 
myself in his good graces; it would be rather fun 
to have a barbarous Russian in love with you, irather 
exciting and full of action such an experience would 
be, I fancy. If you are so impressed with the virtues 
of Owen Glendower, you may take him off my 
hands at the Salon to-morrow, and I’ll talk to the 
Dutchman, for he is going, too.” 

I though you had selected the simple Taffy 
as a soubriquet for your Welsh friend.” 

So I had, until I was suddenly reminded that I 
was filching from Du Maurier’s ‘ Trilby,’ and as 
our friend already had the Owen it was easy to add 
the Glendower.” 

The expedition to the Salon was successfully 
undertaken so far as all were concerned except 
Owen Morgan, for spying her neighbor at table, 
catalogue in hand, Gabriella had no difficulty in 
attaching him to her side, leaving Mr. Morgan to 


MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RUSSIAN’’ 199 


Miss Cavendish’s good graces, while Mr. van Schepel 
followed in Sidney’s train. It was my mission to 
explain the pictures to that young man,” GabrieUa 
told Miss Cavendish when taken to task for her 
disaffection. He doesn’t know very much about 
art and I thought it was the part of a Christian to 
try to broaden his knowledge of things artistic. 
You didn’t mind, did you. Gem? ” 

No, but Mr. Morgan did. He made the engage- 
ment with you and it was not courteous to desert 
him.” 

But he invited us all, and he had you, what 
more did he want? ” 

He evidently wanted more, or less, since you are 
not so big as I.” 

Well, never mind; I’ll make it all right with 
him. Let’s talk about the Russian; he is quite a 
new type. He is the son of a count who has estates 
in the Ural mountains. Isn’t that interesting ? I 
wonder how it would seem to live there. Do you 
suppose he has a castle and would give his daughter- 
in-law all the sables she could wear? I thought his 
name must be queer and it is: Rowtowsky. What 
became of Sidney and the Dutchman? ” 

Gabriella, you fly from one subject to another 
like a — ” 

Humming-bird, yes, I have been told that. I 
want to tell Sidney that I’d rather not change places 
with her. The Russian is to the fore, now.. He is 


200 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


going to give us tea to-night, and show us how they 
drink it in Russia. I made him entirely forget what 
I said about Japanese tea. He is so very homesick, 
poor fellow, and says he misses his home customs. 
They always drink tea about ten o’clock at night 
and have a cosy time over it. I believe he said they 
put preserves in it.” 

‘‘ Nonsense, Gabriella.” 

“ I am sure he did. You will see to-night.” 

Her prediction proved true, for the Russian, who 
had brought out his own packet of choice tea, brewed 
it after his own fashion and invited all the ladies 
to partake. He set forth quite a little feast for them, 
cakes, fruit, and preserved strawberries, which latter 
he begged they would try in their tea. At home, he 
told them, the men drank from glasses, the ladies 
from cups, and a spoonful of the sweets was con- 
sidered an addition to a cup of tea. 

Gabriella was the first to try it, and was enthusiastic 
in her praises, to the delight of the Russian, who 
became quite gay over his little tea-party and who 
made a genial and courteous host. The Dutchman 
never left Sidney’s side, to Gabriella’s delight. 

She sought Sidney’s room at a later hour. Wasn’t 
it fun? ” she cried, as she established herself on the 
foot of the bed. Shall you like living in Holland, 
Sidney? How dear you will look in a little white 
cap with a pair of brass bed-springs over your ears, 
or will you prefer the gold plate with a cap a-top and 


‘‘MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RUSSIAN” 201 


a bonnet perched upon that? And however will 
you manage to keep your house as clean as you will 
be expected to do? ” 

“ I shall like it quite as well as you will like 
Russia,” retorted Sidney, “ and I shall be able to 
keep my house clean quite as easily as you will know 
how to control a half savage household.” 

Gabriella enjoyed the reply to the fullest. “ It 
will be so exciting to have bouts with the moujiks, 
is that what they call them? They shall have so 
many lashes apiece if they don’t behave themselves. 
I shall have to learn to take preserves to my tea, as 
Miss Bailey says, but it will be very hard to learn 
the language ; they say it is so difficult ; that is one 
of the things that depresses me.” 

“ And what are some of the others? ” 

“ I am afraid of having a bomb thrown under my 
carriage. It would be so unpleasant to be gathered 
up in a basket and be buried in sections.” 

“ Don’t mention such ghastly possibilities,” said 
Sidney in horror. “ Go to bed before you give me 
occasion for nightmare. I’m tired to death.” 

“ So am I, but it is a pleasant sort of tired, and 
though I long to lie awake and think over the delight- 
ful things that happen every day I never have a 
chance, for I drop off to sleep right away. One thing 
before we part, Sid. Did you see Miss Bailey way- 
lay me in the hall, the simple-minded dear? ” 

“ Yes, what did she want? ” 


202 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


“ She told me that I mustn^t mind Mr. Morgan’s 
not coming to-night, for she remembered that he 
had told her of a business call he had to make; as 
if I were interested.” 

‘‘ What did you say? ” 

“ I told her it was a matter of no interest to me, 
and she said ‘ Ow, my deah,’ in that lovely English 
way of hers and looked shocked. I think she 
imagined in her simple old British heart that I was 
telling tarradiddles.” 

“ And were you? ” asked Sidney, sharply. 

“ Good night,” returned Gabriella. 


CHAPTER XIV 

WHITHER ? TOGETHER 

Much was crowded into the next few weeks, for, 
with all Paris to see and the important matter of 
gowns and hats to attend to, there was little idle 
time. Since Gabriella’s extravagance consisted in 
the ordering of but one gown at a modest price, and 
a simple hat, she had rather more leisure than the 
other two, who had frequent visits to pay to dress- 
makers, and who started off together in the early 
morning, leaving Gabriella to follow at her conve- 
nience. That Gabriella made the most of these un- 
fettered moments may well be imagined ; if she did 
not spend them at the Louvre with the Russian, 
she took advantage of the time to explore out-of- 
the-way places with the Briton. Upon the Dutch- 
man her blandishments had little effect, for he was 
a follower in Sidney’s train and to her quiet little 
self gave his undivided attention whenever she 
would permit, though one day at the end of three 
weeks he took a sudden departure. 

There were days, too, when the whole party, the 
Baileys included, would take a trip to Versailles 
or to Fontainebleau. One afternoon gave them an 
203 


204 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


outing up the river to St. Cloud, and an early morning 
expedition was made to the market. And thus the 
time passed rapidly and happily till at the end of a 
month they were still lingering in Paris, but making 
feeble efforts to leave. By this time the Baileys 
had taken their departure, though Mr. Morgan still 
tarried. 

“It is the dressmakers and the shopping and all 
that which has taken so much time,” said Miss 
Cavendish one morning as she set upon her handsome 
head a hat which had just been sent home. 

“Yes, but it has been worth while,” returned 
Gabriella, regarding her admiringly. “You are a 
dream in that hat. Gem. I don’t see how you are 
to escape returning a countess or at least a marquise, 
if you appear in it.” 

“ As if I were so silly as to be dazzled by a title,” 
said Miss Cavendish, taking off the hat and turning 
it around on her hand. “ No, my dear, I shall 
remain Isabella Cavendish to the end of the chapter.” 

“ I don’t believe it,” retorted Gabriella. “ We 
have none of us escaped the adoration of foreign 
masculines, so why should you, who are the best 
looking? Anything more distinguished than you 
in that hat it would be hard to find. As for Sidney, 
she is a new creature. Her friends won’t know her 
in her costumes which we shall take the credit of 
having selected.” 

“ If I am not to be recognized I shall be sorry 


WHITHER? TOGETHER 


205 


that I have them/^ remarked Sidney, who had just 
come into the room with an open letter in her hand 
and an expression of half amusement, half annoy- 
ance upon her face. “ It seems mean to show you 
this, but it is too funny to keep.’’ 

^‘What is it?” asked Gabriella, holding out her 
hand. 

On second thoughts I’ll not show you ; I’ll 
simply tell you the contents of this letter. It is from 
Mr. van Schepel and it is a proposal of marriage.” 

Gabriella clapped her hands. What did I tell 
you? I knew his philanderings meant something. 
Oh, Sid, now you will have a chance to wear the 
monster ring.” 

Nonsense, Gabriella,” returned Sidney. “ Of 
course I couldn’t accept him. He has written in 
such funny English that at first I couldn’t tell just 
what he meant, but at the end, when he said that he 
would have offered himself before he left Paris, but 
he had to ask the consent of his parents first, then I 
understood.” 

“ Good little boy ! Did he really say that, Sid ? ” 
“ He certainly did. Listen.” She read a few 
sentences from her letter. 

“ I can scarce believe it in this age and generation. 
Isn’t it delicious? Go on, what else? ” 

“ He says that he will return to Paris at once if I 
will accept him, and that he left hastily that he 
might return before we left.” 


206 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ Dear me.” 

Oh, but I threw cold water upon that plan. I 
wrote him that it would not be the slightest use for 
him to return, for I had left my heart in America.” 

‘‘ And have you? ” asked Gabriella quickly. 

The soft color overspread Sidney’s face as she 
said : “It seemed the best excuse, and one that 
would not allow of any protest.” 

“ But that doesn’t answer my question.” 

“ Which you haven’t any right to ask,” put in 
Miss Cavendish. “ That was a wise reply, Sidney.” 

“ I am sure I never gave him any undue encourage- 
ment, do you think I did. Gem? He always would 
come, you know, and I was merely polite.” 

“ He had the good taste to observe your own 
individual charm, dear, and perhaps your sweet 
courtesy was misunderstood.” 

“ That comes of being too amiable,” returned 
Sidney. “ I am sure I didn’t intend to make him 
think I favored him, but he evidently thinks I did. 
I am sorry.” 

“ I shouldn’t let it bother me in the very least,” 
Gabriella was ready with advice. “ I find that a 
very little affability goes a great way with these 
foreigners. I am constantly having to turn and 
rend the Russian or I am confident that I should be 
carried off willy-nilly. I don’t know yet that I 
shall escape. It is a great temptation, however, to 
see just how far you can go without damage.” 


WHITHER? TOGETHER 


207 


“ I shouldn’t go too far, you might arouse the 
bear’s ugly side. I’ll be ready in a minute, Gem. I 
hope Madame Picot will not keep us an hour as she 
did the last time.” And Sidney left the room. 

‘‘ I think I shall go to the Louvre,” remarked 
Gabriella, drumming thoughtfully on the table. 
“You are not likely to be back before dejeuner, I 
suppose. Perhaps I shall go to the Bon Marche to 
see if they have any more of those feathers that I 
have been yearning for ever since I saw them. Gem, 
do you suppose Sidney really has left her heart in 
America, and that is why she has that far-away look 
sometimes and seems so indifferent.” 

“ I think it is not unlikely. Sidney is not the 
expansive young person that you are, and does not 
discuss such matters with the freedom of Gabriella 
Thorne.” 

“ Do you think I tell everything? ” 

“ I should not be far from wrong if I said I 
did.” 

“ Well, I don’t,” returned Gabriella, diving into 
a drawer for her gloves. “ Good-by, Lovely. I 
shall probably be back to dejeuner, but if I am not 
don’t worry. I shall avoid international questions 
to-day, and shall give Monsieur Le Russe to under- 
stand that I cannot allow my fortune to be devoted 
to the development of Russian mines.” She went 
out, leaving the effect of her breezy presence behind 
her. 


208 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ Bless the child,’’ said Miss Cavendish to herself, 
“ she is a joy even at her naughtiest.” 

Into the clean street Gabriellas tepped, passing 
the surly concierge with a smile and a hon jour. In 
the doorway of the small laiterie across the way 
stood the woman from whom Gabriella frequently 
bought a supply of cream for the afternoon tea 
which the three prepared in their own rooms. The 
girl gave a cheery nod to the little shopkeeper. At 
the corner was the boy from whom she bought her 
daily Herald^ and he smiled at her recognition of 
him. As she made a dash across the Champs Elys^es 
for the entrance to the Met,” she ran into the arms 
of some one crossing from the opposite side. ‘‘ Oh, 
pardon, monsieur,” she exclaimed. She was an- 
swered by a laugh, and looking up, she saw Mr. 
Morgan. “ Oh, is it you ? ” she said. ‘‘ I feel less 
embarrassed since you prove not to be a Frenchman. 
I was in such a hurry to get out of the way of that 
dreadful red automobile that was bearing down upon 
me. I had only just escaped from a string of clatter- 
ing cabs and thought I was safe. Isn’t the Champs 
Elysees dreadful? ” 

“ It isn’t so bad now as in the spring and fall.” 

It is bad enough. Oh, never mind. I can get 
the rest of the way without endangering my life.” 

‘‘ It is my way, too.” 

‘‘ But you were going in the opposite direction.” 

“ Until I saw you.” 


WHITHER ? TOGETHER 


209 


‘‘ Then where are you going, now? ’’ 

“ Wherever you are, if you will allow.” 

I thought of going to the Louvre.” 

“To meet Mr. Rowtowsky? ” 

“ No, for I have just been telling Gem that I had 
decided not to invest my fortune in Russia. It would 
be disloyal to America, you know.” 

Mr. Morgan smiled and looked down at her. 
“ I think myself it would be rather unsafe at this 
time of dissension and disruption.” 

“ Thanks for your opinion. It is always so assuring 
to have a man^s views of such questions. I don’t 
know what would become of me if I had to exist 
without a million at my command. It would be 
dreadful if I were to lose my large inheritance by 
allowing my sentiment to overbalance my dis- 
cretion.” 

An amused look came into Mr. Morgan’s eyes. 
“ It must be a delightful experience to possess 
unlimited means,” he said. “ You American girls 
are so frank. It is refreshing to hear you speak so 
candidly of your fortune. Most of us would be a 
little shy about it.” 

“But I never am shy. I was not as a child; 
Gem can tell you that. Here comes our train, if 
you insist upon the Louvre this morning.” 

“ I don’t insist; I even would suggest the Luxem- 
bourg.” 

“ Then let us go there. I am glad of the chance, 


210 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


for I don’t know my way so well about that quarter, 
and you can take all the responsibility.” 

“ I shall be delighted.” 

They retraced their steps, turned aside and found 
the proper tram for the Luxembourg quarter and 
were presently at the gallery. ‘‘You have not told 
me yet how you are pleased with the modern French 
school,” said Mr. Morgan. “ Now that you have 
seen the Salon as well as the older exhibitions, what 
is your verdict? ” 

“ I think the modem school has made a wonderful 
advance in landscape painting. It is as if they had 
only lately discovered atmosphere and color for out- 
door pictures, but when it comes to an expression 
on canvas of a spiritual truth, in genre painting, I 
cannot see that they have gained. I was disappointed 
in the Salon, I must confess.” 

“ Why?” 

“ Oh, because there was such an evidence of a 
materialistic spirit. After coming from a study of 
those old Italian paintings I missed the real fervor, 
the real divine spark. These modern men know how 
to put on paint, I admit, but they have no soul, and 
after all when it comes to technique, who can equal 
Franz Hals? And as to color, where can Titian be 
excelled, or Palma Vecchio, or Rubens? And as 
to the intense spirituality of the old masters it can 
never be approached in this age. Even old Cimabue 
and Giotto have a far greater charm for me than 


WHITHER ? TOGETHER 


211 


these modern flesh painters, who are not artists 
after all/’ 

Do you include all in that assertion. What of 
your own Sargent? ” 

Oh, I don’t mean to say that I think there are 
no artists nowadays, but that there are very few, 
and I do maintain that there was more real artistic 
feeling, more of the divine spark, in that long ago, 
before faith grew cold and Mammon was god of 
all.” 

‘‘ Yet you couldn’t exist without a million at your 
command, you said a while ago.” 

Did I ? Oh, well, I am not an artist. Genius 
always burns more brightly in a garret than in a 
palace, and thrives better on a crust than on a pate- 
de-joies-gras, though, for my own part, I prefer the 
latter. I might make a compromise, however, and 
be perfectly willing to subsist for the rest of my life 
upon spaghetti porno d^ or a P 

It isn’t half bad, I admit, and I know of a little 
place off the Boulevard des Italiennes where they 
cook it to perfection. Suppose we go there and have 
a dish of it for our luncheon. Can’t we do that ? ” 

I confess it tempts me. Would it — Do you 
think — Could Gem object? ” 

If you think so, of course we will not go.” 

Gabriella thought he looked a little hurt and 
answered quickly: On second thoughts I don’t 
see how anyone could possibly object, and I think 


212 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


it would be great fun. I shouldn't hesitate at home, 
so why here ? ’’ 

Why indeed ? Then when you have had your 
fill of the Luxembourg pictures let us go into the 
garden and watch the people.” 

I am ready now, for I like the gardens,” returned 
Gabriella, they are the very expression of liherte, 
fraternite and egalite. It does me good to see families 
congregating there, mothers with their sewing and 
mending, chatting to their neighbors, and the little 
children playing around. The little things come to 
no harm, for when they are not directly under the 
eyes of the mothers they have the guardianship of 
the gendarmes. These people know how to get 
fresh air and be sociable at the same time.” 

The Latins are very different from the Anglo- 
Saxons in the matter of sociability. We put hedges 
around our gardens and lock our gates to keep out 
the rabble, while here the green parks are free to 
all, and the Frenchman prefers to take his breakfast 
in the eyes of the world instead of behind closed 
doors. How do you manage such things in 
America? ” 

Oh, we close the doors. Our parks and squares 
are generally open, however, though they are gener- 
ally given over to the nursemaids and their charges, 
with a sprinkling of tramps. An American woman 
would no more think of doing her week’s mending 
in the public square than she would think of flying. 


WHITHER? TOGETHER 


213 


See that dear creature over there putting a patch 
upon her husband’s blue blouse ; she looks as placid 
and content as possible; and that little body next 
her with the knitting has evidently an interesting 
tale to tell. This is a much better way to get the 
neighborhood news than to leave the breakfast 
dishes in order to hang over the back fence or to 
shut oneself up in a stuffy little room while the 
children squabble in the gutter.” 

You are not the aggressive upholder of American 
institutions that one sometimes meets.” 

“ I hope not. I am aggressive when persons attack 
those things of which they know nothing, but I see 
our faults and I can admire good wherever I see it.” 

I wonder what you will think of England and 
Wales.” 

I expect to love them. I have gone wild over 
every country even when I had the disadvantage of 
not knowing the languages, so what will I do when 
I get to England? I hope we can go to Wales, but 
Gem is not sure that we can. Sidney is only lent to 
us for six months, though Miss Cavendish means 
to stretch the time and call it six months from the 
time we landed till we sail for home. We are due 
in London the first of August, a stupid time to be 
there, they tell me, but we cannot be in each place 
in May and June, which we are always told are the 
proper months, and what is one to do ? ” 

It does seem rather an intricate question, but I 


214 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


am sure you will find enough to interest you in Lon- 
don at any season of the year/’ 

The bells rang out the noonday hour and they 
started forth through the historic old streets where 
long-haired students passed them and smiling little 
maidens, in gay fripperies, tripped along, where 
fruit venders cried their wares and flower girls 
offered bouquets, until they had crossed the river 
the square towers of Notre Dame looming up to 
their right and the Arc de Triomphe, a reminder 
of past glories, on their left. ‘‘It is a beautiful 
city.” Gabriella gave utterance to the fact as if it 
had newly come to her knowledge. “ It seems to 
me that it grows more beautiful each time I view it 
from a new point, yet I should never care to make 
my home here. A season, a year, yes, I’d like that, 
but after all, when one wants steady satisfaction it 
must be furnished by a place which is something 
more than merely gay and amusing.” 

“ Yet Paris has its sober side, its intellectual 
enjoyment to offer. Down there at the Sorbonne 
you can fancy there is some serious thinking.” 

“ Yes, but one scarcely ever confronts that side 
unless he makes a business of seeking it. Even the 
poor here appear to take their poverty in a less 
self-absorbed way than with us. They don’t look 
so utterly and hopelessly miserable, but as if they 
could take their thoughts off themselves and be 
amused if anything came along.” 


WHITHER? TOGETHER 


215 


Yet there is wretchedness enough/^ 

Oh, I don’t doubt that, but it isn’t so palpable 
as in some cities. Is this the place ? Isn’t it queer ? ” 
It was the haunt of foreigners, of artists, authors 
and journalists, so there was a Bohemian smack to 
the occasion which pleased Gabriella’s love of the 
unconventional. The presence of two or three 
respectable American ladies, however, gave her a 
sense of safety, and she felt no compunctions. Over 
their dish of sphaghetti, with a straw-covered flask 
of Chianti, the two lingered, imagining themselves 
back in Italy, and the talk grew reminiscent and 
personal, so that they tarried long and only left the 
place with reluctance. 

It is such charming weather,” said Mr. Morgan, 
as they issued from the dim little restaurant, that 
it seems a shame to waste any time in-doors. What 
do you say to making a day of it and of going to 
the Bois? I’d be willing to listen even to Browning 
if I could hear you read it out of doors. We can 
stop in at Brentano’s and get a copy of anything you 
may prefer, as a reminder of Florence, and we 
will add a bit of poetry to our reminiscence of this 
day. Will you agree? ” 

Gabriella consented. She would live for the hour, 
she told herself. It would soon be over, so why not 
enjoy it while she could? She would not stop to 
consider what might be the outcome. Sufficient 
unto the day was the pleasure thereof, and with this 


216 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


decision made, she was ready to be her gayest, her 
happiest, her most charming. 

Under the shadow of a great tree the hours of the 
afternoon passed quickly for both. If there were 
not much poetry read, there was much felt, and 
when Mr. Morgan scribbled Gabrielians name and 
the date on the fly-leaf of the book he had bought, 
and asked her to keep it as a remembrance of the 
day, she accepted without demur, and gave him, at 
his asking for a keepsake, a quaint silver bauble, 
the tiniest of silver frames, into which she had stuck 
a miniature photograph of a Fra Angelica angel. 
She had carried the wee frame, in her pocketbook 
ever since the day when the two had been together 
at San Miniato; she had bought the little souvenir 
that same afternoon on the Ponto Vecchio. 

It was six o’clock before the truant entered the 
room where Miss Cavendish was preparing for 
dinner. Well, you little runaway,” exclaimed 
she, you did make a day of it. Give an account of 
yourself. Where have you been ? ” 

“ Where I shall never go again,” replied Gabri- 
ella unsteadily. ‘‘ It has been a heavenly day. Gem 
dear, but it is over. It has passed into the has beens ; 
it will never come back again. The glory of Paris 
has departed, and I don’t care how soon we leave 
it.” 

Miss Cavendish put down the brush she was hold- 
ing. She saw the tear-drops shining on Gabriella’s 


WHITHER ? TOGETHER 


217 


long lashes. She looked at the quivering lips which 
tried to smile and she opened her arms and gathered 
the girl close to her. Dear baby/’ she whispered, 
‘‘ what has gone wrong? ” 

For a moment Gabriella rested her head on her 
friend’s shoulder, then she choked back a rising sob 
and answered : ‘‘ Everything has gone wrong, and 
it is not any better because it is all my own fault. 
I have been the entire day with Mr. Morgan.” 

Why, Gabriella Thorne ! ” 

‘‘ Yes, I may as well ’fess. Let me keep my face 
so against your shoulder, Gem, and don’t look at 
me while I am telling you. I am safe here, but if 
it were not for you I could not do without my mother. 
I met Mr. Morgan just as I was going out this 
morning. We went to the Luxembourg and then 
to a funny little foreign place to luncheon; it was 
all so dear and queer and unusual. We talked a 
great deal, of course, and became very confidential, 
so that we seemed to know each other better than 
ever before. I felt myself going, but I just let myself 
go, and jumped, yes, actually jumped at the idea of 
spending the afternoon with him at the Bois reading. 
We didn’t read much, but I shall never forget what 
we did read. I have the comfort of possessing the 
little book at least ; there it is on the bed ; he gave 
it to me. Before we came away he — he — Oh 
Gem, I was a fool to pretend that I was an heiress, 
for somehow I couldn’t seem to find a chance to 


218 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


tell him differently or else I was contrary, I don’t 
know which, and of course he thought I was rich; 
he wouldn’t have asked me else, I am afraid; and 
of course I had to refuse him because I knew he 
thought I had money, and he is going to leave the 
city to-night and I shall never see him again, never.” 

Miss Cavendish held her closer. And do you 
care, sweetheart? ” 

Gabriella lifted her wet eyes and looked past the 
taller woman. ‘‘ Care, of course I care, but I didn’t 
know how much till I saw him turn the corner and 
knew I couldn’t call him back. Now I am caring 
more and more every minute the further he gets 
from me, and I can never let him know, for he 
considers what I said as final, and so it is ; it has to 
be, you see.” 

I don’t exactly see, for if he really loves you he 
will not care whether you are rich or not.” 

‘‘ But he wouldn’t have loved me unless he had 
thought me rich, and when he finds out that I have 
deceived him, that I have been playing the adven- 
turess, don’t you see he must despise me? ” 

‘‘ Not if he understands that it was all a joke.” 

But it wasn’t so much of a joke that I couldn’t 
have told him when we were getting so confidential.” 
“ Then why didn’t you tell him? ” 

“ Because, as I told you, I was a contrary fool, and 
because I was determined to think he was thinking 
of the money side of it, and that made me mad.” 


WHITHER? TOGETHER 


219 


I cannot yet see that the matter is hopeless/’ 

It is very nice of you to try to comfort me, but 
it is quite hopeless, for either he was attracted by 
my supposed wealth, in which case he is quite impos- 
sible, or else he would be disillusioned if he knew 
what a fraud I had been, in which case I am quite 
impossible, so there is an end of it.” 

“ It seems dreadful that our journey of joy must be 
turned to one of sorrow for you, dearie. I cannot but 
feel that you will see him again, for there are the 
Baileys, you know.” 

Do you suppose I could ever mention the subject 
to them? I’d die first. Never mind. Gem, I shall 
get along. Don’t feel too sorry for me, perhaps it 
won’t hurt as much as I think it will. No, I don’t 
want any dinner, please.” 


CHAPTER XV 


A MEDIAEVAL TOWN 

Once out of Paris Gabriella’s spirits revived and 
her love of the novel and artistic asserted itself. 
Youth loves change, and indeed, for most sorrows 
there is perhaps no better cure than new scenes and 
new interests. Therefore when Rouen^s towers and 
belfries arose before the travellers it was Gabriella 
who appeared most enthusiastic. 

They had something of an adventure at the very 
outset and Gabriella’s sense of humor was too great 
for her not to appreciate the situation and to be the 
merriest of the party which endured a long wait at 
the railway station. They had driven off gaily 
enough from Madame Morelle’s, themselves in one 
open carriage and their baggage piled high in 
another, arriving in ample time to secure their places. 
‘‘ Is this the train for Rouen? ” asked Miss Caven- 
dish, who had been told that there were no second- 
class carriages on certain of the trains. 

“ Oui, madame,’’ was the prompt reply of the 
guard, who hurried them into their places, and to 
their surprise they were on their way in less than 
five minutes. 


220 


A MEDIAEVAL TOWN 


221 


“ My watch cannot be so far wrong, and besides 
I looked at the clock in the station and we had a 
full half-hour,’’ said Miss Cavendish. I imagined 
that it was a greater distance from the house, or 
I could have started later. We must have caught 
an earlier train.” 

‘‘ So much the better,” was Gabriella’s prompt 
reply. ‘‘ We shall get to Rouen that much the 
sooner.” 

But I told them our trunks were for the four- 
thirty train.” 

Never mind, we can either wait for them or can 
make a little turn about the town until the next train 
comes in.” 

However they arrived in a drizzling rain and 
concluded not to attempt any tour of investigation. 

It was an earlier train, you see,” said Miss Caven- 
dish. 

‘‘ Well, we can wait here just as well as in Paris,” 
said Sidney, and they stationed themselves upon a 
bench outside the waiting-room. 

An official approached. Could he assist them? 
No, they told him, they were but waiting for the 
arrival of the next train. They thought he looked 
a little surprised, but they were not discomfited. 
They walked up and down- they watched the 
primitive method of switching off cars from one 
track to another by means of a rope and a small 
turn-table; they watched the clock. They began 


222 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


to feel the pangs of hunger, but they perceived no 
way of satisfying their appetites. There were no 
preparations visible for the arrival of their train. 
The woman who sold newspapers and postal cards 
shut up shop and went home. The men disap- 
peared one by one. The place took on a deserted 
look. 

They can’t have told us wrong,” Miss Cavendish 
exclaimed at last. ‘‘ Sidney, you speak the most 
fluent French; go ask again if our luggage came on 
the train with us.” 

Sidney and Gabriella walked off to the baggage 
room, soon returning with the report that the familiar 
little hand trunks were not there. 

“ I know perfectly well that there was a train to 
leave at half-past four,” Miss Cavendish began again 
to explain, ‘‘ and I as well know that we came on 
an earlier one, so now what has become of that later 
one? That is what I should like to know.” She 
approached the guard, who was now the sole repre- 
sentative of office to be seen. When does the next 
train arrive from Paris? ” she asked. 

A dix heure, madame,” he replied. 

Ten o’clock ! ” exclaimed Miss Cavendish, 
astonished. “ But I was told in Paris that the train 
following the one on which we came would be here 
at seven- thirty.” 

“Yes, madame, at the other station.” 

“ The other station ! ” Miss Cavendish stared 


A MEDIEVAL TOWN 


223 


aghast. She turned to the girls. Gabriella did not 
attempt to restrain her laughter, but Sidney gave 
heed to their astonished leader, who said : There 
seems to be another station at which trains from 
Paris arrive, and our luggage is there, of course. 
Try to straighten this out, Sidney.’’ 

Sidney came to her rescue, and after an animated 
conversation accompanied by many gesticulations 
on the part of the guard and expressions of regret 
that the ladies should have endured so long a wait 
for nothing, they learned that a certain tram would 
take them to the other station. 

It was still raining drearily. It was after eight 
o’clock. They were hungry; they were weary. 
After leaving the car there was a long bridge to 
cross. Why didn’t we take a cab?” groaned 
Sidney. 

Because the man told us to take a car,” snapped 
Gabriella; then she began to laugh. ‘‘It is so 
funny,” she cried, “ to think we should have spent 
hours in that stuffy old station when we might this 
minute have been comfortably lodged and fed.” 

“ Whoever could have imagined that the trains 
would be so erratic,” complained Miss Cavendish. 
“ No one could possibly surmise that an orderly 
train would take it upon itself to be so unaccommo- 
dating.” 

“ Perhaps we should then have taken an accom- 
modation train,” suggested Gabriella. 


224 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ Oh, do hush,’’ exclaimed Miss Cavendish, more 
out of sorts than they had ever seen her. If one 
leaves a certain station in Paris and arrives at a 
certain station in Rouen, what more reasonable to 
suppose than that the next train would do the same ? 
Who could dream that they could go flying off in 
this absurd way? ” 

Nobody could dream of any such thing. Gem 
dear,” said Gabriella soothingly. 

“And I needn’t be cross about it, need I?” 
returned Miss Cavendish, rather ashamed of her 
ill humour. 

They found their trunks without difficulty and 
snugly established in a cab they were driven to their 
lodgings where, late as it was, they found a supper 
awaiting them, and were pleased to discover that 
they had secured a pleasant abiding place in the 
home of an English woman who lived at the edge 
of the town. 

“ Two pictures stand out before me when I think 
of Rouen,” said Miss Cavendish when they started 
out on their pilgrimage the next day. “ One is that 
fearful siege when for months Henry Fifth’s troops 
lay before the city, and the other is the trial of poor 
little Jeanne d’Arc.” 

“ Poor dear,” sighed Sidney, “ I expect to be 
wrought upon to the last degree here in Rouen.” 

“ I am sorry the old town walls are not stand- 
ing." 


A MEDIEVAL TOWN 


225 


Gabriella looked down the broad street. “ I 
should like to look over them and imagine the 
English soldiers encamped before them.” 

“I am rather glad they have been done away 
with,” confessed Miss Cavendish, for when one 
thinks of that haggard, starving, hopeless company 
of refugees gathered in the moat outside the city wall, 
the little children perishing for bread, the gaunt, 
bony, skeleton-like men and women, the fifteen 
thousand from other cities who had taken refuge 
within the walls of Rouen and for whom there was 
no food within the walls, when one thinks of those 
it is well not to have the picture made more vivid. 
Think of them, girls, feeding upon such a pitiful 
supply of roots and grass as could be dug from that 
barren moat. Think of the babies born but to be 
drawn up in a basket for baptism and lowered again 
but to die. No wonder that hundreds perished each 
night and that others went mad. No wonder that 
Canon de Livet stood high on the ramparts and 
cursed the English.” 

Oh, don’t, don’t. Gem,” cried Gabriella, her 
eyes filling, you are making the picture too ghastly, 
too horrible.” 

It is Rouen’s history.” 

I know that it is, but let us take the romantic, 
happy side of the town’s story.” 

“ No, go on,” Sidney gravely encouraged a con- 
tinuation of the tale. We ought to know the misery 


226 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


of life as well as the joy. How did the siege end, 
Gem? I forget the details.” 

“ On Christmas day the English sent out food to 
the starving band. Some say it was refused, but I 
think we may rely upon others who tell us that it 
was only too horribly accepted with cries like those 
of wild animals. But the little food only prolonged 
the agony, for the English lines were not again 
opened in mercy and the siege went on. Toward 
the middle of January, the people having starved 
long enough, the terms of capitulation were made. 
The lives of nine persons only were demanded ; the 
rest could go free. Only one, however, suffered 
death.” 

“ And who was he? ” 

“ Alain Blanchard was beheaded. He was captain 
of the Arbaletriers, and was the moving spirit of the 
town^s resistance. There is a street now named for 
him ; we will hunt it up, for though for many years 
he was regarded as a half mythical hero, later inves- 
tigations proved that he was actually a loyal, brave 
man who died for his country after having made 
every sacrifice to rescue it from English rule.” 

How long after that did Jeanne d’Arc come upon 
the scene?” Sidney asked, as she wandered down 
the wide boulevard which followed the line of the 
former city wall. 

The end of 1419 saw the end of Normandy’s 
resistance to the English. Jeanne d’Arc was then a 


A MEDIEVAL TOWN 


227 


little country girl running after the pigs and chickens 
in the farmyard at Domremy. She was not quite 
thirteen when the ‘ voices ’ came to her, poor little 
lass, so young, so helpless, so scared. ‘ I am a poor 
girl, I cannot even ride,’ was her first answer to the 
voices, you remember.” 

‘‘ But she didn’t give up.” 

She gained strength of purpose as time went on, 
and at last she did appear before the king, but you 
know the rest of the story.” 

Such a pitiful one, and here in Rouen the dear, 
sweet maid was burned to death.” Gabriella spoke 
with pathetic regret as if La Pucelle had been a 
personal friend. 

‘‘ Yes, that happened in the Vieux Marche. We 
will find the place. There is the tower where she 
was taken to be tried before her judges. At first 
she was kept in an iron cage, there in one of the 
castle towers, with four soldiers to guard her as she 
lay chained to a log of wood. The donjon, however, 
is the scene of her splendid courage in answering 
her judges as she did. The tower, aside from this 
interest, is a fine example of a mediaeval donjon tower. 
It was the dungeon of the castle of Bouvreuil.” 

Dear Gem, how she does cram for our benefit,” 
remarked Gabriella. I watch her poring over her 
books with a sense of helpless idleness.” 

'' She loves to do it,” Sidney assured her, “ and 
after, Rella, she gets the best of it, for I don’t doubt 


228 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

but she reads up a great deal more than she tells 
us.” 

They crossed the street and entered the old tower. 
The moat had given place to a fresh green sward, 
but the thick walls, the little slits of windows from 
which the young prisoner must have looked wistfully 
forth, the massive masonry of the entire building 
all evidenced the age of the structure and gave the 
visitors a sense of its strength. They crept up the 
spiral stairway to the upper rooms, deserted and 
silent reminders of bygone tragedies. 

“ I feel as if it had all been but yesterday,” said 
Sidney, as they issued into the open air and beheld 
the beds of flowers sweetly blooming under the free 
sky at the very threshold of the grim old dungeon. 

It gives me a catch at the heart, and I feel as if I 
could almost hear that poor little peasant girl’s 
last words as she was borne along in that rough cart 
through the uneven streets,” Sidney went on. 

It is too much for me,” said Gabriella. “ If I 
follow up the Maid of Orleans’ last hours I shall not 
be fit for anything. Let us pass over the moment 
when they scattered her ashes upon the Seine and 
take up some other subject.” 

But we must go to Bonsecours and see the 
memorial.” 

“ Oh, yes, but that was an afterthought, a late and 
very insufficient expiation. How could they think 
her guilty? ” 


A MEDIEVAL TOWN 


229 


“ Because they accused her of witchcraft. We 
did not do much better two hundred years later. It 
was the English who were responsible.” 

That is what I insisted to — ” Gabriella bit her 
lip and turned to look up at the beautiful towers of 
St. Ouen. 

The most beautiful Gothic church, the purest 
example, it is said, to be found on the continent.” 
Miss Cavendish gave the information as they 
approached the stately edifice. As you know, there 
is little left of old Rouen, and even mediaeval 
Rouen is fast disappearing in the progress which 
insists upon new boulevards and modern architec- 
ture.” 

It is a pity, don’t you think? ” said Sidney. 

It is from an artistic point of view, yet for 
health’s sake streets must be widened, foul old 
buildings must be done away with. The people need 
fresh air and cleanliness if they would advance and 
cope with the rest of the world. There is, however, 
discretion used in making changes and we shall 
see some truly mediaeval streets and houses. The 
church was named for St. Ouen who was buried 
here in 689, but the present building is the fifth on 
the site. The earliest was at that time without the 
city walls. The former abbey of St. Ouen was 
supposed to have been founded in 523, but there is 
also a tradition that a church was founded nearly 
two centuries before, and that its name was changed 


230 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


to the present one when St. Ouen’s body was brought 
to it for burial.^^ 

“ It certainly is a noble church/’ remarked 
Gabriella, as they stepped inside. “ It satisfies me, 
Gem, in almost every detail. That cauliflower 
window is bad, but the others are a delight. It is 
more delightful than the cathedral. I shall want to 
come in here many times before we leave Rouen.” 

“ The centuries have left too many impressions 
of the various hands which have wrought out the 
cathedral for it to be altogether satisfactory,” 
remarked Miss Cavendish, “ though, like the curate’s 
egg, ‘ it is excellent in parts.’ ” 

“ I like the dear little old crypt of St. Gervais,” 
Sidney said. ‘‘ It is so early and so Christian. It 
dates from before the time of the cathedral and is 
as interesting as anything we have seen. Dear me, 
we shall get deeper and deeper into legend and 
history the longer we tarry here. The stories are 
fascinating; that one of Fredegond and Brunhilda, 
and the fable of St. Romain who delivered Rouen 
from a dreadful monster, and which gave rise to the 
Privilege du St. Romain.” 

I like the tale of Rou or Rolf or Rollo, or what- 
ever his name was,” rejoined Gabriella. “ It pleases 
me to think of a yellow-haired viking coming out of 
the north, blowing upon his ivory horn and waving 
his blood red banner. Rolf the Ganger, the sea 
king, who took possession of this submissive land, 


A MEDIEVAL TOWN 


231 


but who was willing to become vassal to the king^s 
daughter. I like the way the record reads : ‘ he 
received from the Karoling King all the lands from 
the river Epte and westwards to Brittany with the 
hand of the Princess Gisela.’ It is delightful to 
think he could hang his golden bracelets on a tree 
in his hunting forest where they remained till he 
came that way again.” 

‘‘ That was because of the strictness of his laws 
more than because of the honesty of his followers, 
I am inclined to think,” Miss Cavendish observed. 
‘‘ Those old pirate dukes and their followers could 
scarcely have been distinguished by a modesty which 
forbade them to take what they found.” 

“ I like the story of Richard the Fearless, too,” 
Sidney went on, and of the Sacristan of St. Ouen. 
Oh, yes, Rouen can supply us with legends and fables 
for months to come.” 

‘‘ But just now,” Miss Cavendish reminded her, 

I think we must remember that our depuner will 
be served in just five minutes.” 

Normandy cider and clotted cream were among 
the other local delicacies offered them, and so 
refreshed were they by their good repast that they 
decided to start out again immediately, making their 
way through the older and more tortuous streets to 
the river where they would find a car for Bonsecours. 
This took them to a height which overlooked the 
valley and the town, and here they could gaze upon 


232 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


the memorial to Jeanne d’Arc, that statue which 
represents the young peasant in all her girlish sim- 
plicity. For an hour they lingered, lounging on the 
grass and looking down on the valley below, reading 
snatches of legend and history from the book they 
had brought. Then they returned to wander about 
the quaint old streets, up the Rue de la Mesure, and 
down the Rue Damisette, hanging over the enticing 
shop windows and gazing upon the Grosse Horloge, 
then to step in to view St. Ouen by afternoon light 
and to buy bits of Rouenese faience on their way up 
the Rue de Romain. 

A second visit to the cathedral brought them 
unexpectedly the next morning upon the market 
place where the Normandy peasants were crying 
their wares and where fresh fruits and vegetables, 
meats and fish, rabbits, pigeons, ribbons, laces, 
clothing and books, jostled each other on the stands. 
Their exit was made through a huge old archway 
which framed the market scene appropriately as 
they looked back. 

More churches, St. Maclou, exquisite in its sym- 
metry and its beautiful carvings, St. Godard and 
St. Patrice with their splendid stained glass, St. 
Vincent with its little laborer standing on the outside 
of one of the buttresses, and looking out over the 
river. Then again to take a parting look at St. 
Ouen and the great cathedral, a last glance at the 
Tour de Beurre, at the beautiful Cour d’Albane, and 


A MEDIAEVAL TOWN 


233 


then to turn with a sigh from all that Rouen repre- 
sented, feeling that rich in history, legend and 
architecture, and lovely in situation as the city was, 
they would have missed much in passing it by, for 
it would remain as one of the treasured memories 
of their trip. 


CHAPTER XVI 


A GOOD CROSSING 

It was not without trepidation that the three 
travellers embarked at Dieppe. Visions of a long 
and rough passage across the Channel arose before 
them and they watched the receding shores of France 
momentarily expecting an attack of mat de mer, but 
the sea was as smooth as a mill pond and all their 
fears were groundless, for a less eventful, monotonous 
and easy trip could not be imagined. There was the 
inevitable long wait for the customs at Newhaven, 
but they had reached an English-speaking country 
and began to experience a homelike feeling before 
even the Sussex downs came in sight. It was late 
when they reached London, but it was not difficult 
to bargain for a four wheeler, and they felt the 
sombre dignity of London’s streets as soon as they 
had passed out of the station, and had turned toward 
the great centre for American tourists, Russell Square. 

“ This lovely cab system,” said Gabriella, sinking 
back comfortably, ‘‘ is such a boon to the traveller 
voyaging into the unknown. Why don’t we import 
it with a few other things ? Imagine only paying 
two or three shillings to go this distance. When 

234 


A GOOD CROSSING 


235 


we cram our cars as full as we can get them so there 
is not even standing room, why don’t we clamor for 
cheap cabs ? It is ridiculous to be satisfied with 
such miserably uncomfortable or expensive ways of 
getting about as we endure. I shall lobby for a bill 
to settle cab rates as soon as I get home, and thereby 
receive the undying gratitude of my fellow country- 
men.” 

Gabriella is always going to do such wonderful 
things,” remarked Sidney. One would think she 
meant to revolutionize the entire world to hear her. 
Doesn’t London seem quiet after Paris? London! 
Is it really true that we are here ? We aren’t dream- 
ing, are we? ” 

No more than we were in Rome or Paris,” 
returned Miss Cavendish. 

I shall be dreaming very soon,” declared Gabri- 
ella. Let me but find a pillow upon which to rest 
my weary head, and I will do all the dreaming neces- 
sary for the occasion. It is very dim and hazy and 
Londonish, isn’t it? But, oh, what a comfort it is 
going to be when we can gabble out our difficulties 
in our own tongue to some friendly bobby. I am 
eager for the fray. Will our landlady drop her h’s 
and will there be a Boots and a slatternly maid such 
as we always read about in English novels? ” 

Let us hope the slatternly maid at least will be 
left out, ” returned Miss Cavendish. We shall 
soon know, for I think this is our street.” 


236 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


As they drew up before the door from every house 
within the square arose the clangor of gongs. “ Does 
that mean dinner, or is it their way of welcoming 
us?” asked Gabriella, as she gathered up her bag 
and umbrella. 

Presumably it is dinner,” answered Miss Caven- 
dish. 

‘‘ Then ho, for the roast beef, the mighty joint and 
the staying pudding,” said Gabriella, as she stepped 
upon the pavement. 

“ The room is beastly and the bed is a rotter,” 
was the girl’s comment after they had been shown 
their apartments. 

Why, Gabriella Thorne,” exclaimed her room- 
mate, shocked at the expressions. 

That is purely English,” was the calm response. 

I have even heard Miss Mildred use those terms, 
and I have no doubt the king speaks those very 
words at times. There are words which we use 
with freedom but which they look upon here with 
horror; I will not mention them lest I shock the 
walls of this very dingy room. Is the dressing bureau 
placed in front of the window so we may not look 
out upon the mews, do they call them? ” 

Never mind what they call them. Don’t try to 
be English in such a startling manner, or you will 
terrify me.” And Gabriella followed her friends 
down to dinner. The meal was substantial and 
good ; all the efforts of their landlady were evidently 


A GOOD CROSSING 


237 


centred upon this department, for the house itself 
bore a shabby and neglected look. 

“It is rather depressing,’’ Miss Cavendish ad- 
mitted, examining their apartments when they had 
returned to them, “ but we shall be in our rooms very 
little of the time, and as we have brought all our 
luggage here we may as well stay and see how it 
impresses us at the end of a week.” Then they 
entered upon a discussion as to their plans for the 
next day. Miss Cavendish wanted first of all to see 
Westminster Abbey, Gabriella was for the National 
Gallery, while Sidney yearned for a trip to Windsor 
and on to Stoke Poges. “ It would be so lovely to 
worship in that dear little church, and to see the 
graveyard which inspired Gray’s Elegy,” she argued. 

Miss Cavendish consulted her Baedeker. “ But 
Sidney, dear, if we go there it ought to be on a day 
when we can see the State apartments at Windsor. 
There is no use in making two bites at a cherry.” 
So Sidney yielded and Gabriella compromised by 
giving up the galleries and by going to St. Paul’s 
for the afternoon service and to Westminster in the 
morning. Then began their sight-seeing, which 
they pursued so systematically and energetically 
that at the end of two weeks Sidney looked pale. 
Miss Cavendish declared that she had mental 
indigestion, and Gabriella was so wan and listless 
that her godmother became alarmed. The girl 
had been anxious to occupy her every moment since 


238 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


their arrival in London and never wanted to be left 
alone a moment or to be obliged to spend the day 
in the house even when the others were glad of a 
respite from the continual sight-seeing. Though 
they might be exhausted she would urge them to 
further effort and wherever they went the graceful 
little figure of Gabriella was always in the lead. 

“ We all need a change,’^ Miss Cavendish declared. 
“We have gone so steadily since we came here ; it 
has been warm, and we have walked such distances 
looking at pictures and museums and such things 
that I think it would be best to fly London for a 
time. What do you say, girls, to a week by the sea ? 
Miss Bailey is very urgent in begging us to join her 
and her sister at that quiet little place in Sussex, so 
why not go ? It will do us all a world of good.” 

Gabriella immediately brightened at the prospect. 
“ I should like it of all things,” she answered. 

“ Do you think we can get in anywhere? ” Sidney 
asked. “You know everybody leaves London in 
August, and we have been told that all the watering 
places are simply packed.” 

“ We will see what we can do,” was the reply. 
“ I will write to Miss Bailey at once and see if we 
can secure lodgings.” 

“Lodgings? Real lodgings where you have a 
sitting-room and have your meals served as you 
choose ? ” Sidney was interested. 

“ All that.” 



“ ‘ THERE IS A LITTLE OLD CHURCH NEXT TO CROSBY HALL 
AND WE SHALL WANT TO SEE THAT.’ ” 


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A GOOD CROSSING 


239 


“ Oh, how delightful. Can we do our own 
marketing? ’’ 

‘‘ I imagine so.’’ 

“ Then do let us go. I think it will be a delightful 
change. I will look up the Windsor Castle route while 
you are writing, for we might not be able to get that 
in when we come back to London and ought to do 
it before we go. To-day we go to the City and hunt 
up that old Crosby Hall and lunch there, isn’t 
that the plan? ” 

Miss Cavendish replied affirmatively and prepared 
to write her letter to Miss Bailey. 

Their frequent rides on top of a ’bus had familiar- 
ized them with London streets and they had become 
nimble in climbing up and down and in distinguish- 
ing the proper words : ‘‘ Piccadilly Circus,” “ Ox- 
ford Street,” or “ Bayswater ” among the maze of 
signs which advertised Nestle’s Food, Van Houten’s 
Cocoa and the like articles. Gabriella generally 
managed to get next the driver, and by so going 
added many an item to their fund of information. 
It was she who had discovered that Crosby Hall was 
worth visiting. ‘‘ It is in the old, old part of the 
city,” she told the others, “ and the name of the 
streets down that way are fascinating : Threadneedle 
Street, Bishopsgate Within, Bartholomew’s Lane. 
There is a little old church next to Crosby Hall — 
St. Helen’s is the name of it — and we shall want to 
see that.” 


240 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


As they stood before the venerable Hall, Miss 
Cavendish remarked : And this was considered 

at one time to be the finest residence in London. 
Shakespeare mentions it in Richard III, and no 
doubt had dined here more than once.’’ 

When it was a palace and not a restaurant,” 
returned Sidney. ‘‘ It is certainly a fine old building 
and I suppose we should be thankful it has been 
preserved even for its present uses.” 

I don’t object to the uses,” declared Gabriella, 
“ not when we can get such excellent chops as we 
shall probably find here.” They passed into the 
lobby and up the steps into the great banquet hall 
where, under a noble Gothic roof, they seated 
themselves and gave themselves up to a carnal 
enjoyment of the excellent food that was provided 
them. Miss Cavendish meanwhile offering morsels 
of the history relating to the building, which she 
found in a small book which had been presented to 
her as they entered. It was built in 1466 by Sir 
John Crosby,” she gave her information between 
sips of ale from a quaint mug. ‘‘ Afterward it 
belonged to Richard III. ‘ Here,’ says my little 
book, ‘ were hatched those intrigues which enabled 
the wily Richard to secure the crown.’ It goes on 
to say that the situation of the Hall was favorable, 
for it is near the Tower where the two little princes 
were murdered and — ” 

Gabriella laid down her knife and fork. “ And 


A GOOD CROSSING 


241 


to think we poor commonplace persons sit here 
eating mutton chops/ ^ she said, looking around the 
room with a new interest. 

Sir Thomas More also lived here,’^ Miss Caven- 
dish went on. There is a list of the notables who 
were occupants at different times. Queen Elizabeth 
was a guest.” 

It seems much more intimate to eat in a place 
like this than merely to look atjt,” remarked Sidney. 
‘‘You feel a certain personal sense of possession 
when your chops have been cooked in that great 
fireplace.” 

“ Then think what a change from a palace to 
a Non-conformist meeting-house. Finally it was 
bought, restored and put to its present uses.” 

“ Which are exceedingly good ones,” decided 
Gabriella. 

From the Hall they found their way to the ancient 
church set back in an enclosure which one could 
enter from Crosby Hall, and which they might 
have missed if they had not known where to look 
for it. As early as 1216 there was a nunnery con- 
nected with the church. To this parish belonged 
Shakespeare during his residence in London, and 
was rated in the parish books for five pounds, thirteen 
shillings and fourpence. 

“ I wouldn’t have missed it for anything,” said 
Miss Cavendish enthusiastically. “ It has been one 
of our pleasantest London experiences. We had an 


242 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


unusual combination of old-time associations and 
surroundings with modern service.’’ 

It gave one a sense of fitness to see all those 
good-looking Englishmen with their mugs of ale 
and their chops, just as one always imagines them 
lunching,” said Sidney. “ There is something 
exceedingly stalwart and dependable in the appear- 
ance of most Englishmen, I find.” 

Gabriella looked sober and proposed that they 
finish their day at the Museum, which was always 
their stop-gap when nothing else specially invited. 
There was one uncanny, red-haired mummy, which 
Gabriella declared was perfectly fascinating, and 
which she never failed to look for whenever she 
visited the Museum; this and the Elgin marbles were 
her favorite exhibits. Miss Cavendish enjoyed the 
illuminated missals and manuscripts of various 
kinds, while Sidney preferred the scarabae and the 
treasures of ancient Egypt. 

The early start for Windsor was made on a day 
when the sun was dimly shining, but when the air 
was soft and balmy, yet not too hot. With many 
other tourists they were rushed through the rooms 
of the castle and were glad to get out again into 
the open air. ‘‘ Here and at the Tower were the 
only times that I have felt that I belonged to the 
common herd,” said Sidney as they issued from the 
courtyard. “ It is good of them to let us see it at 
all, I suppose, and I did enjoy it, but I do dislike to 


A GOOD CROSSING 


243 


be prodded and poked and urged to come along as 
if I were a stupid gaping Cockney who had only an 
insatiable curiosity for things which belonged to 
kings and queens.’^ 

‘‘ Never mind, dear little aristocrat, you shall not 
be crowded at Stoke Poges,’’ Gabriella tried to 
console her. 

A short railway journey to Slough, a drive of two 
miles over picturesque country roads brought them 
to the quiet little churchyard at Stoke Poges. They 
left their carriage a little way up the road and wan- 
dered across the fields to the church. There were 
but few other visitors, and the peaceful solitude was 
theirs to enjoy. Could one imagine a more restful 
place,^’ murmured Miss Cavendish. 

Or a more beautiful English landscape,’’ put in 
Sidney. 

Or a dearer little church,” said Gabriella. ‘‘ I 
could almost vrrite an elegy myself. It is all here. 
Gem. I can hear the lowing herds; there is the 
ivy-mantled tower, though the moping owl seems 
to be missing, but there are the rugged elms and 
here where we are standing is the very yew tree’s 
shade.” 

But Sidney had no words for her emotions and 
she mopped her eyes until Gabriella asked her if 
Melancholy had marked her for her own. I didn’t 
suppose,” said Sidney by way of excuse, “ that it 
could stay so exactly as it must have been when Gray 


244 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


used to come here, and when you find a thing like 
this that isn’t in the least disappointing, and that 
is as perfectly enchantingly peaceful and lovely as 
this is, you can’t help filling up and feeling as if you 
had realized a dream you never expected to come 
true. I suppose I am very incoherent, but I can’t 
help it. Don’t let us go back. Gem, till the very last 
minute. I wish we could spend days here, a Sunday 
anyhow, so I could come to this little church and 
could steep my soul in the loveliness of it all.” 

‘‘ You brought the Elegy, I hope,” said Gabriella. 

No, but I can repeat it. You know it was my 
father’s favorite poem.” And she began the beautiful 
elegy, pausing every now and then at an interruption 
from one of the others, but at the close they all sat 
very thoughtful until Gabriella tip-toed across the 
grass to the tomb which enclosed the body of the 
poet and that of his mother. Here the girl stood 
and read the pathetic inscription, and then stooping, 
gathered a tiny flower and laid it on the slab. 

The ploughman homeward plods his weary 
way,” quoted Miss Cavendish, as the shadows 
deepened. ‘‘ We must get back to the ‘ madding 
crowd,’ girls.” 

Oh, but I can’t bear to,” exclaimed Sidney, 
rising reluctantly. Don’t let’s ever go back. Let’s 
send for our best beloveds and stay here the rest of 
our lives.” 

A leaf from the ivy-mantled tower, a bit of the 


A GOOD CROSSING 


245 


yew tree, some photographs, and better than all, a 
sweet and lasting memory they carried away with 
them. Windsor Castle, in all its magnificence, filled 
their thoughts with less joy than did the quiet little 
churchyard set in the lush green of an English 
landscape. 

One doesn’t realize till going over the poem,” 
said Sidney, “ how many ordinary quotations we 
take from it. I am always surprised myself, well as 
I know it. I must try to get an English copy and put 
my photograph in it with the ivy leaf and the bit of 
yew.” This finding of a simple copy she discovered 
was not an easy thing to do, and wondered that no 
enterprising publisher had seen the need of a cheap 
edition of proper size for the photograph, inasmuch 
as such would find a ready sale. 

London isn’t exactly lovable,” remarked Gabri- 
ella, as they passed through the tranquil streets where 
rows of sombre houses showed hazily. “ It is digni- 
fied and kindly, while Paris is gay and amusing. 
It doesn’t seem to be London itself with its smoky 
atmosphere, and its general dinginess that one cares 
for, but it is the associations. It is altogether too 
big to be taken into your heart of hearts in the way 
we did the little church, yet you do admire it. I 
feel as if I might live here for centuries and still 
have to learn parts of it. We have been going, 
going constantly for three weeks, and yet there 
is much more to see than when we began, for every 


246 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


day something new turns up. I don’t believe I 
should ever care to live in London, but if all rural 
England is as charming as that part of it that we 
saw to-day, I shall love it, in spite of high walls, 
iron gates and unresponsiveness in general.” 

I don’t think it is unresponsive,” replied Sidney. 
‘‘ I think it is merely retiring. I like the way they 
make a garden of the back yards and have their tea 
out there. Why don’t we do such things? The 
back gardens are lovely and the people enjoy them 
as we never do. I think afternoon tea is a great 
institution, and have become very dependent upon 
it.” 

“ No wonder, after having had nothing but cold 
water to drink at luncheon. With no hot bread for 
breakfast, but only cold toast and the eternal bacon 
and eggs, and for dinner vegetable-marrow, cabbage 
and potatoes, I yearn for our American markets,” 
declared Gabriella. We have our advantages at 
home, and there are some of the English customs 
I can never get used to. If I lived here a thousand 
years I would not set my dressing bureau with its 
back to a window, nor would I serve bacon and 
eggs for breakfast three hundred and sixty-five 
times a year. The back door garden and the after- 
noon tea go very well, but give me less grass and a 
country where you don’t have to grow all your 
tomatoes under glass ; I am rather dependent upon 
tomatoes, you remember. I should like to borrow 


A GOOD CROSSING 


247 


a cathedral or two, a couple of castles and some other 
antiques, but for the rest I shall be quite satisfied 
to exchange England for America.” 

‘‘You were not so wont to extol our new and raw 
country,” returned Sidney with a smile. 


CHAPTER XVII 


CONFESSIONS 

Upon the board-walk of a quiet seaside resort 
Miss Cavendish and Sidney were briskly pacing. 
In front of them were Gabriella and the elder Miss 
Bailey in earnest conversation. There were few 
American tourists to be seen in this comer of Sussex 
and Sidney noticed that those who passed them by 
turned to look a second time upon Miss Cavendish’s 
tall figure in the well-fitting blue serge gown, and 
gave even more attention to the girl ahead with the 
big blue gray eyes and mass of gold brown hair, the 
details of her faultless costume betokening her an 
American. Miss Mildred had elected to remain 
in-doors, fearing an attack of neuralgia, for the 
weather was cool and the sea air penetrating. Miss 
Bailey, with the frugal mind of an Englishwoman, 
had initiated her friends into the mysteries of market- 
ing and they were elate at the prospect of enjoying 
a carefully selected meal which would appeal to 
their American tastes as well as to the appetite which 
the keen salt wind would sharpen. 

The stiff breeze loosened Sidney’s smoothly 
arranged locks and fluttered the veil around her hat. 

248 


CONFESSIONS 


249 


She was the neatest of persons, though she never 
bore the trig look which was one of Gabriella’s 
distinguishing features. “ My hair is always limp 
and straight,” she was wont to complain. ‘‘ If it 
had the lovely ripple that Gabriella’s has, or even 
the wave which makes Gem’s manageable, I could 
get along.” So now she was tucking back stray 
locks, which wisped across her face, and bemoaning 
the fact that what brought color to Gabriella’s face 
brought only freckles to hers. 

Gabriella looks ten per cent better already,” 
Miss Cavendish remarked. We have been going 
too hard, I am afraid, and London did not agree 
with her.” 

“ I am not sure that it was only London,” re- 
turned Sidney. 

Nor I,” responded Miss Cavendish soberly. 

Just here Gabriella turned around. Miss 
Bailey and I are going back for tea,” she said. Will 
you come with us? ” 

“ Pray come,” urged Miss Bailey. But Miss 
Cavendish and Sidney declined, saying that they pre- 
ferred the sands and would rather watch the children 
busy with their sand castles. 

“ Fancy ! ” exclaimed Miss Bailey, who would 
rather go without her dinner than her afternoon tea. 

Miss Ford said it would be ready for us, and 
we have some lovely plum cake,” Gabriella told her 
companion confidentially. Do you think that if 


250 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

we were to stop for Miss Mildred she would come 
with us ? ” 

“ Oh dear, no,’’ returned Miss Bailey. “ She has 
two or three friends in the same house and will take 
her tea with them, I am sure.” 

They continued their walk to the unpretentious 
cottage where Miss Bailey had found lodgings for 
Miss Cavendish and her girls. The sitting-room 
looked cheerful and homelike. It had pots of bloom- 
ing flowers in the windows and the table was spread 
for tea. A gay cosey covered the tea-pot and the 
thin slices of bread and butter supplemented by a 
loaf of plum cake made an enticing array. I 
believe I am hungry,” said Gabriella, taking her 
place at the table. 

‘‘That’s a surprise to you, isn’t it?” said Miss 
Bailey, accepting the cup which Gabriella handed 
her. ' 

“ Rather, for I had so little appetite in London. 
Perhaps it is because I have been walking in the wind, 
or perhaps it is because it is so cosey to be pouring 
out tea at what is a home table for the time being.” 

Miss Bailey sipped her tea thoughtfully. “ Have 
you heard from Owen Morgan ? ” she asked suddenly. 

Gabriella paled and set down her cup with trem- 
bling hand. “ No,” she answered after a pause. 

“ Didn’t you expect to ? ” Miss Bailey viewed 
her with a little smile. 

A second pause before the “ No ” was repeated. 


CONFESSIONS 


251 


But, my dear, why not ? I was sure, there in 
Paris, that all was going smoothly, and Mildred 
and I have talked of it constantly. We were so happy 
for Owen. Poor boy, he has missed his mother sadly, 
though I have tried to be a mother, and Milly a 
sister to him, so far as we could.” 

The tears rushed to Gabrielians eyes, and though 
she tried to wink them away, one stole from beneath 
her downcast lids, and before she could dash it 
away it was observed. 

Why, my dear,” there was tender concern in 
Miss Bailey’s tones, ‘‘have you quarrelled? Has 
anything happened to vex you? ” 

“ No, we haven’t quarrelled,” Gabriella’s voice 
faltered, “ but we — we have agreed not to see each 
other again.” 

“ Oh ! ” Miss Bailey finished her tea. “ You are 
not eating anything after all, Gabriella; I may call 
you so, may I not ? It is such a pretty name.” 

“ Oh, please, yes ; I should like to have you.” 
She hastily consumed a slice of bread and butter in 
silence. 

“ Will you cut me a slice of the cake, please? ” 
asked Miss Bailey. 

“ Oh, I beg your pardon.” The girl gained her 
self-control. “ I am a very awkward and thoughtless 
hostess. Have some tea. Miss Bailey. Please do, 
and won’t you take some jam? ” 

“ I never take jam to my bread except at break- 


252 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


fast/’ returned Miss Bailey, but I should like the 
cake, please and a cup of tea.” 

Gabriella gave her attention to the dear lady, but 
her own tea grew cold and she left her cake untasted. 

Miss Bailey ate her slice to the last crumb with 
evident enjoyment. It does make one hungry 
to walk in the salt air,” she remarked. 

“ Shall we go back then, and get up an appetite 
for our dinner? ” said Gabriella, rising. 

Miss Bailey put out a detaining hand. “ Wait a 
minute, my dear, I want to talk to you. Please 
forgive me if I seem to be interfering with what may 
appear to be none of my concern, but I stand in 
place of Mr. Morgan’s mother; he is my godson, 
and whatever Mildred and I possess will be his when 
we are gone. His happiness is very dear to us. I 
tell you this, because I know how many charming 
Americans marry wealth, and, though I do not attrib- 
ute mercenary motives to you, I thought perhaps a 
young man with nothing but his profession might 
seem ineligible to you who must have had many 
excellent offers. It is comfortable to have the assur- 
ance, sometimes, that one may expect to be outside 
poverty. As for character, you might search the 
world over, and not find a young man with better 
morals.” 

‘‘ Oh, I know it, I know it,” murmured Gabriella, 
sinking down on the floor and burying her face 
in Miss Bailey’s purple satin lap. 


CONFESSIONS 


253 


He is just such a young man/’ Miss Bailey 
continued, “ as I should like to have seen Mildred 
marry, but you know her story, perhaps. She was 
engaged to a young curate who died just as he was 
looking forward to an excellent living which would 
be vacant the coming spring, when they were to have 
been married.” 

‘‘ Oh, no, I never heard that,” said Gabriella, 
lifting her face and remembering with compunctions 
her tart little speeches about Miss Mildred. 

As I was remarking,” Miss Bailey went on, 
hastily, ‘‘it is not money alone which brings happi- 
ness, though one would wish to be sure of comfort.” 

“ It isn’t I who am looking for money, who cares 
for riches; it is all on his side,” Gabriella’s words 
tumbled out eagerly yet confusedly. “It is all on 
his side,” she repeated. “ I refused him because I 
believed he thought me an heiress and I thought he 
would never have been attracted to me unless he had 
thought I possessed a fortune. I haven’t a penny. 
I am as poor as a church mouse, and I would be 
a conceited, heartless idiot if I should make such an 
announcement as that I would marry only a wealthy 
man.” 

“ You’ll have to explain, you know,” said Miss 
Bailey. “ I couldn’t understand unless you did, 
could I? Mr. Morgan never thought you were 
wealthy. He knew it was Miss Shaw who would 
inherit a fortune from her grandfather.” 


254 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


“ He knew? ” Gabriella lifted an agitated face. 

Certainly.” 

“ Who told him? ” 

I did. We met some Americans who had seen 
you in Florence and who recognized all of you.” 

“ Oh, dear ! ” Gabrielians head again dropped. 
‘‘ Then I am more kinds of an idiot than I supposed,” 
she murmured. But gladness was tugging at her 
heart, and when Miss Bailey, with a timid and 
cautious gesture, laid her hand on the girl’s hair she 
caught it and rested her cheek against it. 

‘‘You will explain, won’t you?” repeated Miss 
Bailey. “ Owen would never take you from your 
mother, you know, and would be perfectly willing 
to live in America if you preferred, though we have 
been hoping you could all be persuaded to make 
your home nearer us. We have talked it over many 
times, Mildred and I, and we thought since there 
were but the two of you it might not be difficult 
to arrange. Of late, however, we have been having 
such very depressed letters from our boy, and we 
knew something must have gone wrong. I told 
Mildred, that at the risk of being thought meddle- 
some, I meant to question you. You won’t be vexed 
with me, will you? ” 

“ No, indeed, I will not, and I will try to explain 
as well as I can. What I have to tell is not very 
much to my credit. Miss Bailey, and perhaps after 
you have heard and realize what a silly goose I am, 


CONFESSIONS 


255 


you will be glad that I decided not to see — not to 
see — your godson again.” Then she faltered 
forth her tale, which Miss Bailey interrupted once 
or twice with Fancy ! ” or ‘‘ Really ! ” but made 
no other comment. ‘‘ So you see,” said Gabriella 
in conclusion, ‘‘it is quite impossible for him to 
believe in me again. Either he must think I deliber- 
ately tried to mislead him, in which case he must 
have no respect for me, or he must think me too silly 
to live.” 

“ But my dear, he thinks neither. He has laughed 
with us more than once at your little joke, and has 
said how well you carried it off. He understood the 
situation from the first.” 

“ And I have been going about saying the English 
had no sense of humor,” murmured Gabriella. 

“ I may be obtuse,” Miss Bailey went on to say, 
“ and I may be pushing my interference further 
than I have a right, but if I do you must not be vexed 
because of my plain speaking, it is all because I can- 
not bear that the ocean should divide you two if you 
love each other.” 

“ Neither can I,” came in muffled tones from the 
enveloping folds of the purple satin. There was a 
sound of voices at the outer door. Gabriella sprang 
to her feet. “ There comes Gem,” she exclaimed. 
“ Dear Miss Bailey, oh, dear Miss Bailey, how I 
love you.” She leaned over and bestowed a rapturous 
kiss upon the good lady’s cheek, to the evident em- 


256 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


barrassment of the recipient, who was unused to such 
spontaneity, though she found voice to say: “It 
is coming out as it should, my dear. Have patience,’’ 
before Miss Cavendish and Sidney entered the room. 

“ We changed our minds,” announced the latter. 
“ It grew so cold that we had the shivers and the 
more we thought of a cup of hot tea the more alluring 
it seemed.” 

“ I am afraid it is cold, now,” said Gabriella, 
lifting off the cosey and examining the tea. 

“ Send out and have a fresh supply made,” sug- 
gested Miss Cavendish, and Gabriella obeyed. 

“ What have you been doing to my girl? ” whis- 
pered Miss Cavendish to Miss Bailey, “ she looks 
as if she had seen a vision.” 

Miss Bailey smiled and over a third clip of tea 
she let Miss Cavendish into the secret of Gabriella’s 
altered looks. 

From that hour both Miss Bailey and Miss Mildred 
seemed more than ordinary friends. Miss Mildred, 
more effusive than her sister, fluttered up to Gabri- 
ella that evening and clasped the girl’s hands in her 
bony, be-ringed ones, with such real cordiality that 
Gabriella, with a remembrance of former speeches, 
felt ashamed and responded by throwing her arms 
around Miss Mildred and kissing her warmly. 
There was another long and confidential talk with 
Miss Bailey while the Pierrots were singing their 
jocular songs on their stand by the board walk. To 


CONFESSIONS 


257 


Gabriella, whose thoughts were far away, For I^se 
a little burgu-urgu-lar,’’ came but dully, but many 
times in after years there would arise before her the 
memory of a long stretch of sand, a beating sea, 
a row of Chinese lanterns swinging gaily, and the 
dancing Pierrots. She had put her trust in Miss 
Bailey and was content to wait results. 

That evening she lingered in the sitting-room 
after Sidney had gone up-stairs. Miss Cavendish 
sat by the table, the light of the lamp falling upon her 
expressive face and touching one or two glistening 
threads in her dark hair. There was an air of digni- 
fied repose, of controlled emotion about her that 
soothed Gabrielians storm-tossed soul. She stood 
behind her and softly stroked the smooth cheek 
whose youthful outline had not disappeared. “ Gem 
dear, you are very good to look upon,’’ she said. 

Miss Cavendish drew down the slim little hand and 
kissed it. ‘‘ Come around here, sweetness,” she said. 
“It is good to look upon a girl who has found her 
roses here by the sea. So the world is not a desert 
waste any longer, Gabriella? ” 

Gabriella seated herself upon the arm of the big 
chair. “ No, there is a faint indication of a silver 
lining to my cloud, though I am not so dead certain 
but that it will break in thunders on my head yet. 
I don’t dare to be too happy. Gem.” 

“ Take all the happiness you can get, dear. The 
day may come when you will be glad you did.” 


258 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ But don’t you think I am very poor-spirited, 
that I am a weak, wishy-washy flabby animal to let 
Miss Bailey know I cared? Shouldn’t I have had 
more pride? ” 

No, no,” Miss Cavendish spoke with emotion. 
‘‘ Pride has caused the downfall of many a hope ; 
it has blotted out the plan of many a home ; it has 
turned to ashes many a fire on the hearth. If it had 
not been for a matter of pride I might have been 
priestess of the fires in my own home to-day, Gabri- 
ella.” 

‘‘ Tell me, dearest Isabella.” 

“ It was about ten years ago that I sent a letter 
which was never received. It gave my address 
in a city to which I was going and which was the 
home of the man I loved. At first I was angry, 
hurt, mortified because my letter was not answered, 
and, when, months after, I discovered that it had 
not reached its destination, instead of writing to ex- 
plain, I told myself that if my friend had cared very 
much he would have found me anyhow. On his 
side it was argued that I did not care to see him again, 
that I had been only trifling with the man who had 
offered me his love. I learned these facts years after, 
when he had left that part of the country and when 
it was too late.” 

“ And that is why — ” 

Why I am Isabella Cavendish ? Yes. I am 
very content, however; I have many interests. But 


CONFESSIONS 


259 


he was a good man, and I might have been first in 
some one’s life instead of always finding only second 
place at best.” 

“ Did he ever know? ” 

‘‘ I have no reason to believe he did. The friend 
who explained the mystery to me is long since dead, 
and the man to whom I gave a half promise one 
summer night has drifted out of my life.” 

“ But you may meet again. Perhaps it is not too 
late even now.” 

The world is wide, dear, and our ways are 
divided. I do not even know where he is, for he 
went to the far west before I lost all knowledge of 
him. I tell you this, to reassure you, to let you see 
how slight a thing may stand in the way of one’s 
truest joy. Let us not speak of this again. I have 
lived it down.” 

Gabriella kissed her good-night and went thought- 
fully to her room, feeling glad that she had let Miss 
Bailey have a glimpse of the heart wEose troubles 
she had striven to hide. 

For the rest of the week there were quietly happy 
times; afternoon tea over against the sand dunes 
when the glory of the western sky shot the little 
river with red and gold ; long walks to rustic villages 
where gray Norman towered churches nestled in the 
midst of thatched cottages whose gardens were gay 
with blooms. Sometimes a tea garden would be 
discovered in one of these, and surrounded by a riot 


260 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


of flowers, the party of five or six would regale them- 
selves upon tea and cakes. Again it would be a trip 
to see one of England’s finest castles, the seat of the 
Duke of Norfolk at Arundel, where the swift Arun 
rushes by on its way to the sea, the castle overtopping 
the hill that sets a climb for those who, having reached 
the bridge, gaze admiringly at the old feudal strong- 
hold perched above them. 

“ The town travels up-hill all the way,” said Sidney, 
who, breathless, was first to gain the summit and 
look back upon the sparkling green- bordered river, 
the scattered farm-houses, the nearer bridge, and the 
distant towns. 

‘‘ The castle itself is not open, you know,” said 
Miss Bailey, the next to arrive at the top, her Eng- 
lish habit of walking adding to the sturdiness of her 
appearance as well as to the ease with which she was 
able to mount the hill. But the park is quite free 
to visitors,” she added, “ and it is most delightful.” 
And delightful indeed they found it. The great grey 
castle, the central pile of magnificence around which 
were the softer beauties of green sward and forest, 
lake and stream, serving as offsets to the massive 
walls which ended in ‘‘ turrets old in story.” 

‘‘ It is surely very impressive,” Miss Cavendish 
gave her verdict, ‘‘ and its setting is beyond com- 
pare.” 

All those battlements and turrets and towers 
and fortifications make one hark back to the old 


CONFESSIONS 


261 


knightly days/^ said Sidney. It must have had a 
great history.” 

“ It has shared in most of England’s important 
events,” Miss Bailey told her. ‘‘ The Earls of 
Arimdel were Norman barons, and naturally they 
were to the front in matters of difference with the 
king. It was besieged and surrendered to Henry I, 
endured a second siege from King Stephen, while 
the Cavaliers and Roundheads each struggled for 
its possession, and the Parliamentary troops left 
it in ruins.” 

“ I am glad when they restored it that they took 
care to leave some of the ruins so as to make it more 
interesting, a sort of hall-mark of antiquity, as it 
were,” said Gabriella. We have an Anne Arundel 
County in our state of Maryland,” remarked she. 
“ It was named for the wife of Caecilus Calvert.” 

Really? ” Miss Bailey was interested. 

‘‘ Maryland was a Roman Catholic settlement, 
though the freest of them all,” Gabriella went on, 

and I believe the Dukes of Norfolk have always 
been Romanists.” 

Always, and the present duke is very zealous. 
He is at the head of the Roman Catholic party in 
England. It was he who gave the cathedral you can 
see through the trees. If we have time we can stop 
there on our way back.” 

But they did not have time, for the delights of 
Swanbourne Lake, where the lone cry of a moor hen 


262 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


alone broke the silence, the deep solitude of the upper 
park, where hundreds of deer were feeding, the won- 
derful beauty of landscape on every side, so enchanted 
them that they lingered too long for anything further 
than a visit to the old parochial church shut out 
from the influence of a Roman Catholic domain by 
a high wall. It was found to be rich in stained glass 
and invited an interest only second to that of the 
castle itself. On their way through the town the 
party had glimpses of gable-roofed, Elizabethan 
houses, and caught sight through open doorways 
of interiors whose quaint old pieces of furniture were 
displayed against backgrounds of brilliant color 
where gardens smiled beyond the portals. They 
longed to linger, but the swift-flowing Arun called 
them to follow its course to the sea, and they returned 
with fine appetites for a supper of fried mullets 
caught fresh from the river. 

This was their last excursion in Sussex, for the 
whole party returned the next day to London, where 
they parted company, the Baileys going on to visit 
friends in Derbyshire before they should go to their 
own home, and Miss Cavendish with her girls ready 
to start on their trip to Scotland and the English 
lakes. 


CHAPTER XVIII 

ST. GILES’S FAIR 

There was a great gathering of townspeople and 
country people in the old town of Oxford. “ What 
can be going on? ” exclaimed Miss Cavendish, who, 
with her girls, was turning the corner by old St. 
Michael’s Church. She stopped to question a gaping 
countryman, who looked at her open-mouthed. 
What benighted being was this who could be upon 
the spot and not know about St. Giles’s Fair? But 
he gathered sufficient pity and understanding to tell 
them what they wanted to know. 

We must ask Mrs. Birch about it when we get 
back from market,” said Sidney. This attending 
to their own marketing was a great frolic, and one 
which added zest to their appetites when meal-time 
came. The market offered fresh country vegetables 
and fruit and was an attractive little place to the 
three who had come to regard bacon and eggs as a 
dish to be avoided when possible. Here they could 
select according to the taste of each and were always 
very content. Having completed this duty, they 
went back to their lodgings to give their orders and 
to gain information. 


263 


264 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


Yes, ma’am, thank you, ma’am,” said their 
landlady. I’ll do the mushrooms for your lunch- 
eons, and ’ow would you like your heggs, miss? ” 

‘‘They’d be good scrambled, wouldn’t they?” 
suggested Sidney. 

“ You may scramble them, Mrs. Birch,” said 
Miss Cavendish. But the good woman looked mysti- 
fied; she had never ’eard of scrambled heggs. 
“ Stirred eggs,” suggested Miss Cavendish. But this 
method seemed no more familiar to Mrs. Birch than 
the other, there were further explanations and at 
last a gleam of intelligence flashed from Mrs. Birch’s 
eye. “ Hit’s buttered heggs you mean, miss, thank 
you, miss.” And thereafter buttered eggs became 
a part of their bill of fare. 

St. Giles’s Fair, they were told, was not what it 
had been ; it was a noisy, foolish performance which 
Mrs. Birch doubted if the ladies would care to see, 
but if they should like a glimpse of it the evening 
would be the liveliest. Therefore they bided their 
time till night should fall, and meanwhile they 
occupied themselves with the treasures of the Bod- 
leian Library, peeped in at Tom Quad, took a hasty 
view of the ivied walls of Pembroke and other colleges 
which they would examine more closely later on. 

“ I almost hate to leave our comfortable sitting- 
room,” said Sidney with a regretful look at the 
lighted lamp and the open piano. “ I have been 
in no such homelike place since I left America.” 


ST. GILES’S FAIR 


265 


‘‘ We’ll have our homelike places all back again 
soon enough,” replied Gabriella, “ but we shall 
not be able to see St. Giles’s Fair.” 

Therefore they started out and elbowed their way 
through a throng of jostling men and women who had 
come a-fairing, and soon they found themselves in the 
very centre of the excitement. Side shows were every- 
where, calliopes, street pianos, brazen horns, fairly 
deafened them; and the vendors of nostrums and 
novelties crying their wares added to the Babel of 
noise. For the rest, be it said, it was a quiet crowd. 
There was little boisterous merriment, no loud- 
voiced, piercing, nasal conversation. Indeed, it 
was ludicrously unnoisy,” Gabriella said. “ The 
English have a silent way of taking things, anyhow,” 
she remarked. If a man gets angry with his wife, 
and chucks her out of the house, he growls something 
in an undertone, you hear a dull thud and that is 
all. One day in London I happened to hear two 
men who were having an altercation ; you could see 
by their set faces that they were simply boiling mad 
inside, but all that I heard in the very lowest pitched, 
contemptuous tones was ‘ You are a wehm,’ from 
one man, and the other one said in quite the same 
manner : ‘ If I am a wehm, you are a loathsome 
wehm,’ and that was all of it; vituperation could 
go no further than to call a man a loathsome worm. 
Oh, do look. Gem.” 

Miss Cavendish turned her head to see a quar- 


266 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


tette of girls with long wands in their hands; the 
wands were tipped with something fuzzy with which 
they touched the faces of such chance young man as 
took their fancy, and the swain returned the attention 
by flinging a handful of flour upon the damsel. In 
some cases when the little wand was too persistently 
used the young woman was caught and kissed, 
though, unlike an American girl upon such a prov- 
ocation, she neither struggled nor shrieked, neither 
did she laugh loudly. Her friends might giggle softly, 
but the whole performance was so matter-of-fact, 
there was such a spirit of imperturbability evidenced 
that Sidney and Gabriella were amused beyond 
measure. 

‘‘ It is the very funniest thing we have seen,’’ 
Sidney declared. “ Imagine such a scene at one of 
our county fairs. Picture one of our American girls 
under similar circumstances and fancy her shrill 
laughter, her high-pitched protestations and all the 
rest of it. All the noise upon this occasion is made 
by those very unmusical instruments, and those 
clap- trappers.” 

A short survey of the fair served them, and they 
returned to their lodgings, caring little for merry- 
go-rounds, Punch and Judy shows, jugglers and 
charlatans. 

‘‘ I am afraid I am fickle,” announced Gabriella 
as they entered the cosey apartment. I am be- 
ginning to feel myself false to Italy because I am 


ST. GILES’S FAIR 


267 


realizing the delights of clean English lodgings. 
Fancy being able always to live in a beautiful old 
historic English town with green meadows and 
winding streams at your very door, and of having 
the comforts of home with no bother of servants; 
of being able to do your own marketing and of feeling 
sure that your food will be served and cooked per- 
fectly and your rooms kept in exquisite order by a 
soft-voiced, respectable woman who never is super- 
cilious nor condescending, but who, on the contrary, 
is humbly delighted that you favor her house with 
your presence. It is such an entirely new sensation 
that I am wondering if it isn’t the very idealest 
existence of any.” 

Shall you take out naturalization papers to- 
morrow? ” asked Sidney. 

“ Not quite so soon ; I haven’t seen Scotland yet.” 

‘‘ Nor Wales.” 

A vivid blush overspread Gabriella’s cheek. 
‘‘ Please spare a trembling maid,” she begged. 
‘‘ Have pity upon my condition of uncertainty and 
dread.” 

Sidney laughed and picked up her shining brass 
candlestick, remarking that she had letters to write. 

Oxford was left behind with reluctance. It was 
tantalizing not to be able to wander down Addison’s 
walk more than once, not to become more than half 
familiar with the noblest old street in England,” 
nor to linger more leisurely in the sweet gardens and 


268 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


the dignified college halls. Yet, with passage taken 
for a settled sailing, time was pressing and there was 
still much which they felt they could not leave out 
of their trip. Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon held 
them for two or three days, then, as they journeyed 
on from Lincoln to York and Durham, their enthu- 
siasm waxed warmer and warmer as the cathedral 
towns led them from glory to glory. 

“ I don’t believe either of the others can be finer 
than Lincoln,” declared Gabriella. I have made 
my choice and nothing will budge me. Where will 
you find anything as beautiful as that Angel Choir, 
where anything as grotesque as that dear little imp? 
Where shall we see such a wonderful vaulting as that 
which springs from that single shaft in the Chapter 
House ? And surely nothing can rival its site at the 
top of that mighty hill overlooking the Witham. 
I may appear obstinate to you after this, but Lincoln 
has my heart and I shall not give it to either York or 
Durham.” 

York was reached that same night, for it was 
intended to make the most of time and to reach 
Durham early the next afternoon, take a hasty view 
of the cathedral and arrive in Edinburgh that same 
evening, it being Saturday. 

‘'I have the address of a well recommended hotel,” 
said Miss Cavendish, fumbling in her bag for her 
address book. ‘‘ We will go there. It is very near 
the station, I was told, so we can walk.” But though 


ST. GILESES FAIR 


269 


they wandered about for half an hour, the small 
hotel seemed to have lost itself utterly, for no trace 
of it could they discover and could find no one who 
knew it. At last they were directed to an inn which 
presented a very attractive exterior, fresh paint and 
a fine old doorway giving them the impression that 
here they would find ease and comfort. They 
inquired for rooms, and were told that though the 
house was rather full they could be accommodated. 
A shock-headed youth escorted them up the stairs, 
down a hallway and into a back room. 

Dear me,’’ Miss Cavendish looked at her com- 
panions, ‘‘ I am afraid this will not do.” 

The youth stood stolidly, open-mouthed and un- 
responsive, but a direct question brought the informa- 
tion that there was no other room to be had. 

‘‘ It is too late to look elsewhere,” Miss Caven- 
dish decided. 

But this is a feather bed,” said Gabriella; ‘‘ we 
can never sleep on that this warm night.” 

No amount of questioning seemed to bring any 
suggestion to the vacant brain of Boots. When he 
did venture upon the semblance of a sentence it was 
in such unintelligible Yorkshire dialect that he might 
as well have saved himself speech. At last Miss 
Cavendish inquired, Is there a chambermaid?” 
There was. ‘‘ Send her to me.” To their relief 
the chambermaid was a brisk capable body who 
took in the situation. It was true that there was no 


270 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


other room vacant. The town was quite full, and 
the hotels were pressed to their utmost capacity. 
The feather bed could be removed and placed under- 
neath the mattress if the ladies wished. Where’s 
that Boots? ” 

After some moments Boots reappeared, looking 
wholly scared, dense and stupid, but his arms were 
muscular if his tongue was rusty and it appeared 
to be little trouble to make such changes as should 
give the travellers a hope of a good night’s rest. 

The breakfast was execrable and the price 
charged by an over pious text-quoting landlady 
was not modest. ‘‘Next time I arrive in York it 
will be daylight,” decided Miss Cavendish as they 
took their departure from the house. 

“ Yet,” returned Gabriella, “ I wouldn’t have 
missed Boots for anything. He answers so perfectly 
to my ideal of a thick-headed Yorkshire bumpkin 
that I am satisfied to have met him under such 
circumstances rather than to have had him left out 
of my life. He is the most deliciously earth-born 
churl I have ever encountered. That shock head, 
that gaping mouth, those lustreless eyes, that va- 
cant stare, when shall we ever meet their like 
again ? ” 

“ But there’s the Minster,” exclaimed Sidney as 
they approached the great cathedral after their tour 
of the old city walls. The grand proportions of the 
building impressed them all, the fantastic gargoyles 


ST. GILES’S FAIR 


271 


especially pleased Gabriella. Sidney was delighted 
with the beautiful stained glass, Miss Cavendish 
was enthusiastic over the Chapter House. They 
had walked the length and breadth of the immense 
interior, had entered the crypt, and had examined 
many of the details of the cathedral’s beautiful 
interior by the time the hour of twelve warned them 
that they must soon leave. 

Stop,” whispered Sidney, something is going 
to happen. In the vast aisles a grave company was 
assembling. From the chancel wound a long pro- 
cession of clergy and singers chanting a miserere 
which echoed through the vast transept toward which 
the procession was moving. Then through the door, 
from the bright September weather outside was 
borne a bier. That this was an occasion of more than 
usual solemnity the appearance of all indicated. 
This was the funeral of an esteemed member of the 
clergy. There were vested priests and choir boys, 
long-veiled deaconesses and members of guilds. 
The slow cortege proceeded up the church and with 
the echoing minor notes of the music in their ears 
the three Americans stepped out into the sunshine 
and life from which the old canon had just been 
borne. 

It was the climax,” whispered Sidney. “ Wasn’t 
it wonderful to see that solemn procession, to hear 
that heart-breaking music in that most wonderful 
of cathedrals? You may have Lincoln, Gabriella, 


272 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

but for my part I am overpowered by the beauty of 
York.” 

The train soon bore them to their next stopping 
place, “ Durham’s Gothic shade,” and here Miss 
Cavendish became eloquent and declared her alle- 
giance given. ‘‘It is so splendidly and simply Nor- 
man. Look at those ponderous columns, that com- 
bination of mightiness and simplicity, and to think 
that here lie the bones of the Venerable Bede and of 
St. Cuthbert. Then its history. Think of the Prel- 
ate of Durham so splendidly placed in his fortress, 
really a sovereign who was rivalled by only one 
other, the Bishop of Ely on his island. Then there 
is that pretty legend of how the monks of Lindis- 
farne were led to the site by a dun cow. You may 
have your Lincoln imp, Gabriella, it just suits you, 
but give me the staid and historic dun cow. As 
soon as we get to Edinburgh I shall sally forth and 
buy a copy of Scott’s poems. You remember in 
‘ Marmion ’ that it says : 

“ ‘ And after many wanderings past 
He chose his lordly seat at last 
Where his cathedral huge and vast, 

Looks down upon the Wear.’” 


“ So this is the Wear,” said Sidney, “ and a beauti- 
ful site it is indeed for a cathedral. I am almost 
tempted to grant that it satisfies me as well as York, 
yet it doesn’t quite.” 


ST. GILESES FAIR 


273 


‘‘ How satisfactory it is for each of us to have a 
different cathedral,” said Gabriella; “it makes it 
much more interesting.” 

“ Gem must have a little mooly cow to match 
your imp,” said Sidney. And when they left the 
town a tiny silver effigy of Durham’s historic dun 
cow was hanging from Miss Cavendish’s lorgnette 
chain. To Gabriella Sidney had already presented 
the most grotesque imp that Lincoln could furnish, 
and for her own satisfaction she had a pile of photo- 
graphs of York Minster. 

They climbed the hill to the railway station, well 
pleased that they had not left out of their trip the 
three cathedral towns which had given them such 
delight. “ I wish we could have seen other 
cathedrals,” Miss Cavendish remarked as they left 
Durham behind them. 

“ Oh, but consider how hopelessly mixed up we 
would be,” returned Gabriella. “Now each of us 
is entirely satisfied, for we have just one apiece; 
there is no dividing of our affections, no half-hearted- 
ness in the devotion each gives to her own. Pos- 
sibly there may be others as fine as Lincoln, but I 
shall never know it, and I am happy.” 

“ I will venture to say that there is none with a 
more romantic history, nor which has such literary 
associations as Durham,” rejoined Miss Cavendish. 

“ And I don’t believe there is such stained glass 
in any of them as in York,” Sidney put in, and then 


274 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


they laughed and settled back in their places to look 
upon the fast fading landscape. Along a cold but 
interesting coast their route lay for most of the jour- 
ney. Once in a while they caught glimpses of a 
steely blue sea, of ships far out, of stretches of sandy 
beaches or green clad cliffs, and by nine o’clock they 
were in Edinburgh. 

A genial old cabman landed them safely at their 
lodgings in a clean, comfortable house, from the 
window of which they could look over the roofs of 
houses to the castle which crowned the hill be- 
yond. 

“ It is going to be fascinating ; I feel it,” announced 
Gabriella, taking her first peep the next morning 
from her window. The dear grey city is going 

to enthrall me. It is not so big but that we can take 
it in and become friendly with it and its castle. It 
is a good thing to have a castle as part o^the view, 
for then you feel as if the city had not parted with 
its history; you feel that its links to the past have 
not been broken by the sledge-hammer of modernity.” 

‘‘Who is making fine speeches?” said Sidney, 
coming in at that moment. “ We must hurry, 
mustn’t we? if we want to see the soldiers. We 
must be at St. Giles’s by nine, you know. Don’t 
stop to prink, Gabriella.” 

“ If there ever was an occasion that called for 
prinking it is when I am to attract the gaze of the 
Black Watch,” returned Gabriella. 



“THEY WERE REWARDED BY SIGHT OF A COMPANY UNDER 

INSPECTION.” 



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ST. GILES’S FAIR 


275 


‘‘ But they’ll get there before we do, if we don’t 
hurry, and we want to see them marching in.” 

Owing to Gabriella’s prinking they were late and 
the Highlanders were in their places by the time the 
church was reached, so it was not till after the hearty 
singing of “ Onward, Christian soldiers,” in which 
all joined, and the service was over that the girls 
had their chance of seeing swinging kilts and swaying 
bonnets all in line. ‘‘Aren’t they the loveliest ever ? ” 
whispered Gabriella as they stood on the pavement 
outside. “ I’d like to take one home with me just 
to keep and look at. See that dickey little officer’s 
claymore; what a perfect beauty of a cairngorm 
he has.” 

“ We must follow them up to the castle,” de- 
clared Sidney, no less eager than Gabriella. “ It 
is ever so long before it will be time to go to St. 
Cuthbert’s, and we’ve nothing else to do.” So up 
the hill they followed the swinging line to see the 
red coats and tartans disappear under the grey stone 
gateway. But they lingered to look down from 
the parapet upon the town and were rewarded by 
sight of a company under inspection. 

“ It is a picture, a perfect picture,” exclaimed 
Gabriella. “ See that officer coming out from the 
castle, isn’t he fine? It is the same one who had 
that beauty cairngorm.” 

“ Yes, and he is quite aware that he is a thing of 
beauty himself,” remarked Miss Cavendish. 


276 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


Never mind, he is a joy forever, and if I could 
wear a tartan, carry a claymore, and have such a 
lovely swinging bonnet as that I’d be puffed up, 
too. I don’t blame him one bit. I am afraid. Gem, 
that I shall spend all the time we are here in running 
after the soldiers.” 

‘‘ I never expected to be crazy over the military,” 
said Sidney, but I must say I never saw anything 
so fascinating as this uniform, nor a finer set of men.” 

“ Come away, come away, you two,” laughed 
Miss Cavendish, ‘‘ or you will lose your wits. It is 
time we were starting for church if we expect to hear 
‘ wee Jimmy McGregor ’ preach to-day.” And 
with many a backward look they went down the hill 
to be set upon by a horde of street urchins who 
would fain show them the Boby Burruns ” house, 
but whom they smilingly passed by. 

‘‘ You girls are not living up to your opportunities,” 
Miss Cavendish reproached her companions. “ I 
don’t believe that you allowed either your eyes or 
your thoughts to wander for one moment from those 
soldiers. I don’t believe that you appreciated the fact 
that it was in St. Giles’s that Jenny Geddes threw 
her stool at Dean Hanna, nor that you were near 
the very site of the Heart of Midlothian when you 
came away. You were simply bent upon tagging 
soldiers and I couldn’t get at you.” 

“ We can hear about Jenny Geddes any time,” 
returned Gabriella, “ but when again will we see 


ST. GILES’S FAIR 


277 


Gordon’s Forty-second coming home from serv- 
ice? ” 

‘‘ In the graveyard of St. Cuthbert’s we shall find 
the graves of De Quincey and — ” 

“ There goes one,” interrupted Sidney as she 
caught sight of a swaying kilt and a pair of bare knees 
on the other side of the street. And Miss Caven- 
dish gave up in despair. 


CHAPTER XIX 


SKIRLING PIPES 

It was at Holyrood that the two girls next evinced 
their mild madness for kilts and claymores. All 
morning they had been gathering up a new vocabu- 
lary, conversing excitedly of sporrans and philabegs 
and calling one another fiickermahoy or tawpie until 
Miss Cavendish declared they were fairly daft. 
They had walked the length of the Old Canongate, 
had gazed upon John Knox’s house, had peeped 
into the filthy yet attractive second-hand shops 
which displayed treasures to the searcher for antiques, 
had looked upon the squalor and wretchedness of 
the city’s poor and had at last made a tour of in- 
spection of ancient Holyrood to view the room where 
Rizzio was slain and the place where Mary, Queen 
of Scots laid her unhappy head. 

It was in one of the rooms associated most inti- 
mately with Darnley that Miss Cavendish, turning 
to speak to her companions, saw them both racing 
toward the door. “ Come on ! Come on ! ” they 
cried and she followed. Down the stairs ran the 
girls as if all the ghosts of Holyrood were after them, 
nor did they stop even when they had passed through 
the gate into the street. 


278 


SKIRLING PIPES 


279 


At last, breathless, Miss Cavendish caught up 
with them. ‘‘What is it?’’ she cried. “Where 
are you going? ” 

“ Didn’t you see them? Don’t you hear them? ” 
cried Gabriella, all excitement. “ The soldiers, 
the pipes; they are drilling back there.” 

“ I caught sight of them from one of the windows,” 
gasped Sidney, “ and we had to come. Oh dear, I 
am afraid we are too late.” 

“ Not too late to have our heart’s desire fulfilled. 
They are marching to the pipes and they will come 
this way. Oh, I am all of a shiver over it.” Gabri- 
ella’s glowing face bent forward in eager delight 
brought an answering gleam to the eye of more than 
one tall laddie as he marched by to the music of the 
pipes. The whole regiment was out, bonnets tossing, 
kilts moving in a rhythmic swing. Up the old 
Canongate they marched until only a gleam of steel, 
a touch of red, a twinkling back and forth of bus- 
kined legs could be perceived, and the skirling of the 
pipes had become a distant drone. 

“Oh, wasn’t it splendid?” sighed Gabriella, 
brought back to a consciousness of herself. “ I 
would rather have seen that than all of the rooms 
of stupid old Darnley and his ilk. We may go to 
the castle this afternoon, mayn’t we. Gem? Per- 
haps we may see another drill or parade or some- 
thing.” 

But no such blissful experience was afforded them, 


280 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


and they ended their day in one of the delightful 
book-shops where they bought little tartan-covered 
volumes of Bums and a quaint old edition of Scott’s 
poems. These they bore triumphantly home with 
them. 

Mrs. McTavish says we must not fail to see the 
great Forth bridge,” said Sidney the next morning. 

‘‘ Then since we are having unusually good 
weather for Scotland, we may as well take advantage 
of it and go this afternoon,” returned Miss Caven- 
dish. As for the morning there is always plenty 
to occupy us if we do no more than walk up and down 
Prince’s street.” 

‘‘ I adore Prince’s street,” remarked Gabriella, 
“ and I adore Edinburgh. When I get tired of feast- 
ing my eyes on lovely tartans and cairngorms and all 
sorts of Scotchy things in the shop windows I can 
look across at the lovely gardens or up at the castle. 
Then one sees such a pleasant mixture of people, 
nice rosy-cheeked light-haired Scotch girls in tarns 
and golf-capes, well dressed Americans, dear old 
Scotchmen in kilts, and last but not least, the de- 
lightful soldiers with their bare knees and their funny 
little caps.” 

‘‘ Speaking of weather,” said Sidney, “ although it 
is rather chilly here, who could ever have thought 
that either England or Scotland would furnish us 
with so much sunshine? I hope it will continue to 
the very end.” 


SKIRLING PIPES 


281 


It was cool and bracing down by the water when 
they reached North Queensferry where they gazed 
up at the monstrous structure which spanned the 
Firth of Forth. The little village itself was not 
important, but they wandered about for an hour, 
finding small matters to interest their vigilant 
eyes. They had planned to cross upon the ferry 
boat and then ride home upon one of the brakes 
constantly running to Edinburgh. 

“ I suppose this must be the wharf where the ferry- 
boat comes in,” said Miss Cavendish when they had 
come to the landing. 

‘‘ There are two nice looking girls over in that 
garden,” said Gabriella; “I will ask them.” She 
walked a little way up the road, and, looking over 
the garden wall, put her inquiries, coming back 
smiling. They say that sometimes it comes in here 
and sometimes it goes to the other wharf,” was her 
report. 

“ But how are we to tell? ” asked Miss Caven- 
dish. 

‘‘ There is no way; you simply have to watch and 
when you see that it is not coming here you must 
run for it.” 

And how far is the other wharf? ” 

Oh, a quarter of a mile or so.” 

‘‘ Will the boat wait? ” 

‘‘ A wee bitty.” 

But suppose we don’t get there in time.” 


282 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


‘‘ Then that will be the fault of our legs ; we 
couldn’t blame the boat, you know.” 

‘‘ Did you ever ! ” exclaimed Sidney. 

The ferry-boat was now leaving the other side, 
and the attention of the three, as well as that of the 
occupants of the garden was fixed upon the move- 
ments of the small steamer. For a time it seemed 
to be deliberately heading for them, but of a sudden, 
when it appeared certain that the wharf where they 
stood must be the one selected, it turned and swept 
on to the further one. “ You’ll have to run,” called 
the girls in the garden, and the three took to their 
heels and travelled down the road at their best speed. 
There was a turn ahead of them and here the boat 
was lost to sight, but they presently saw it again; 
it had reached the wharf. Would it wait? It 
seemed a very long quarter of a mile, for they were 
still at some distance. 

“ My breath is almost gone,” gasped Miss Caven- 
dish. 

I shall drop,” panted Sidney, falling in the rear. 
But Gabriella kept ahead, and presently a cyclist 
came dashing past. I’ll tell them to wait for you,” 
he called back and the hindmost ones dropped into 
a walk while Gabriella stumbled on and finally was 
assisted, gasping and exhausted, upon the deck. 

“ There are two others,” she managed to utter 
the words, and in a few moments appeared Miss 
Cavendish and Sidney almost in a state of collapse. 


SKIRLING PIPES 


283 


But they had made their boat and the very effort 
gave an added value to their sight of the great bridge 
so far above them, and to the lovely drive back with 
Hopetoun House and Barnbougle Castle as distant 
landmarks. 

‘‘ It is more than I ever dreamed of having, this 
glimpse of Scotland,” said Gabriella as they were 
packing their trunks that night, but oh. Gem, how 
it does whet one’s appetite for more. I long for 
Oban and the skirling pipes, for the Highlands, 
the Trossachs and the lakes.” 

We shall take some of the lakes from Glas- 
gow.” 

“ Let us pray for a pleasant day,” said Sidney. 

Of course we shall have a pleasant day,” re- 
plied Gabriella. Haven’t we always had good 
weather for all the special things? ” 

“ It was so lovely in Lucerne at the feast of Corpus 
Christi,” returned Sidney. 

‘‘ But that was the only time we had it so dread- 
fully wet, and there has to be an exception to prove 
the rule.” 

But alas, for Gabriella’s optimism, the day ap- 
pointed for the lakes promised doubtfully enough 
in the early morning, though a sudden burst of sun- 
shine just before the time of departure gave them 
courage to undertake the trip. For an hour or so 
there was no rain, but they had scarcely embarked 
before the clouds thickened and a drizzle set in. ‘‘It 


284 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


is real typical Scotch weather,” said Miss Caven- 
dish ; “ we may as well accept it cheerfully.” 

‘‘But why,” said Sidney, gathering her golf cape 
around her and drawing her feet under her stool, 
“ why, in all conscience, if this is the general con- 
dition of things, of all countries, must Scotland be 
the only one which does not provide a cover for the 
decks of her steamers? There is not a dry spot 
where we can creep except that stuffy cabin full of 
crying children.” 

“ I suppose simply because it is the general state 
of things no one minds it,” returned Miss Cavendish. 
“ Everyone prepares for it, and they are disappointed 
if they don’t get wet.” 

“ Then we must continue to sit here with dripping 
umbrellas over our heads, golf capes over our knees 
and our heels in little puddles of water.” 

“ I am afraid that is the best we can do.” 

“ I shouldn’t mind the getting wet so much if we 
could only see the landscape,” said Gabriella. “ If 
we must be uncomfortable we should at least get the 
benefit of what we came for.” 

“You can have the satisfaction of enduring a real 
Scotch mist.” 

“ Which I am not at all enthusiastic about,” said 
Sidney. 

“ Perhaps it will clear at noon and the coaching 
part will make up for this part of the trip,” suggested 
Gabriella cheerfully. 


SKIRLING PIPES 


285 


But the drizzle was constant; the char-a-bancs 
was no better provided with a protecting cover than 
was the steamer, and the dripping umbrellas were 
in requisition the entire day. Yet there were sugges- 
tions of magnificent scenery once in a while when 
the clouds lifted and they could behold the rolling 
hills and the stretches of purple heath beyond the 
wooded shores of the lovely lake. “ It must be 
beautiful beyond description,” sighed Sidney, and 
it is too exasperating to feel that you are really here 
in the heart of this lovely scenery that we have read 
about and dreamed about and that this veil of mist 
hides everything.” ^ 

“ And to think we have paid to get soaked and to 
see only a grey wall of mist,” said Gabriella chuck- 
ling, her sense of fun getting the best of the situa- 
tion. 

‘‘We might stop off somewhere and try what to- 
morrow will do for us,” suggested Miss Cavendish, 
“ though there is no surety that to-morrow will be 
any better.” 

“ Oh, no, we’d better go back and get dry,” said 
Sidney resignedly. 

The journey ended at Glasgow and here letters 
awaited them. Among these was a glad and eager 
one from Gabriella’s mother, who counted the days 
till her child’s return. There was also one from 
Miss Bailey for Gabriella. She read it through, then 
thoughtfully folded it. “ What do you think. Gem,” 


286 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


she said, “ Miss Bailey asks me to come and make 
her a visit. Isn’t she kind? ’’ 

Very. And should you like to go ? ” 

“And desert you? Oh, no. She proposes that 
you sail without me, but with this dear letter from 
my patient little mother, whose longing pervades 
every line, with my passage taken and all that, I 
simply couldn’t.” 

Miss Cavendish made no answer for a moment. 
“ What else does she say? ” she asked presently. 

“ She says she cannot bear that I should go back 
with wrong impressions, that she wants me very much, 
and that she and Miss Mildred will do all in their 
power to make me content and wiU see that I have 
a proper companion for the home voyage. But I 
shall not go to her. Gem, don’t think that, and 
please don’t take me to Wales.” 

“ I thought that was a place you felt you must see.” 

“ I did, but now I’d rather cuddle down with you 
and Sidney in some restful place for the little time 
that is left. You are tired out, although we have not 
travelled with such distractingly rapid rushes as 
some do, and I think we shall be in a better state 
for our ocean trip if we take things easy for the next 
two weeks.” 

“ Shouldn’t you like to go to Miss Bailey for that 
time? It would be a very pleasant experience to 
enjoy the hospitality of a real English home, and in 
that beautiful Devonshire, too.” 


SKIRLING PIPES 


287 


But Gabriella shook her head. She has written 
to Mr. Morgan, she says, but has had no reply. 
I know what she thinks. She believes if I were to 
stay that perhaps she could arrange a meeting, that 
if he knew I were in England with her it might 
make a difference, but if he is so cautious, so de- 
liberate that he must be urged, I would rather never 
see him again. I think now that what I want most 
in the whole world is my precious mother.^’ 

“ Dear child, it will not be long.’^ 

No, and I am glad. It has been a happy, happy 
six months. Gem, and I shall enjoy it all over again, 
for ‘ Who can take from us what has been ours? ’ ’’ 
Miss Cavendish kissed her softly and drew her 
down by her. We will go down to the Wordsworth 
country and spend our last two weeks. I have been 
going over the route with Sidney, and we could find 
no spot more restful and beneficial for our final 
enjo)mient than the English lake country, I am 
sure.’^ 

Let’s find some little village, then ; not one of 
the larger places.” 

That is what I intend to do. I am thinking of 
Grasmere or Ambleside.” 

Which is the smaller? ” 

“ Grasmere, and it was Wordsworth’s home ; there 
he is buried and there, too, lived De Quincey and 
Hartley Coleridge in Nab Cottage. The whole 
countryside is full of suggestion.” 


288 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

“Then do let us go there; it sounds perfectly 
fascinating.’* 

“ We’ll take a day or two for Keswick and the 
Derwentwater section and then go on by coach.” 

“Charming. But won’t it be very expensive?” 

“ Not at all. I am still keeping within my thousand 
dollars, Gabriella, and have a good margin. Since 
we came to England our expenses, yours and mine, 
have been only about a hundred and fifty dollars, 
an average of about twelve dollars a week, and I am 
sure we have been comfortable, have travelled where 
we liked and have not stinted ourselves.” 

“ As usual I am lost in admiration of your ability 
as conductor. Then we are to start to-morrow for 
the lakes and after them comes Liverpool and home. 
I shall write to dear Miss Bailey that I cannot make 
her the visit, for across the ocean there is a little 
mother longing for the unworthy daughter who has 
spent half a year away from her.” 

Sidney was awake as Gabriella entered her room. 
“ Did you have good news, Rella? ” she asked. 

“ Yes, I think so. And you, Sidney? ” 

“ I had better news than usual, for some one will 
meet me at the steamer whom I shall be very glad 
to see.” 

“ Ah, I can guess ; it is the writer of the thick 
letters.” 

Sidney gave a swift amused look at Gabriella. 
“ Yes, it is,” she said. 


SKIRLING PIPES 


289 


Aha ! I thought there was something in that. 
Are you open to congratulations, Miss Shaw? ’’ 

Sidney made no answer, but continued to look 
with an amused expression at Gabriella. 

‘‘ Tell me, you wretched little clam,’’ Gabriella 
went on. “ I have a mind to shake you.” 

When one has the dearest, most devoted mother 
in the world, I think she is to be very much con- 
gratulated.” 

“ Sidney, you are hedging.” 

Explain yourself.” 

“ Do you pretend that all your absorbing interest 
and your eagerness were given to your mother’s 
letters? ” 

‘‘ Yes, my romantic friend.” 

And not to a man ? Is there no man at all in the 
case ? ” 

‘‘Yes, there are two ; my brother and my grand- 
father.” 

“ Oh, pshaw ! I don’t believe it.” 

“Fact, my dear. I suppose you can’t conceive 
of such a thing as a girl of my age never having had 
a lover except our friend the Dutchman. I have 
been more grateful to him than I acknowledged, 
for he has added immensely to my self-respect. I 
never confessed this even to mamma, Rella, but I 
did hate to go through life without having had even 
one proposal.” 

“ As if any girl ever did. You are full young yet. 


290 A JOURNEY OF JOY 

and will probably have dozens before you get 
through.” 

Sidney shook her head. “ I’m not the kind that 
induces them, and I doubt if I ever have another, 
but I am mightily uplifted by having had just that 
one, and I am perfectly content to go back to my 
mother and live my life, for it will now be broidered 
with memories of this lovely trip.” 

“ It has been a lovely trip, hasn’t it ? And we have 
come to know each other so well. I shall always 
think of you as one of my best friends. I hope we 
shall be comrades all our lives.” 

“ I hope so, too, Rella. You have been the life 
of this trip, and I shall always remember how much 
you added to my enjoyment of it.” 

‘‘ That’s awfully sweet of you, Sidney. Do you 
know what the next part of the programme 
is? ” 

Yes, Gem and I have been going over our 
Baedekers together, and I think we have planned a 
delightful time.” 

“ So do I ; that doesn’t disappoint me in the least.” 

Does anything? ” 

You do ; I had counted on a romance coming 
out of those letters.” 

Sidney laughed. I am satisfied, and if there is 
any future romance I am willing to wait for it.” 

In your case the waiting will be easy, ” said 
Gabriella as she blew out the candle. 


SKIRLING PIPES 


291 


At Keswick with its suggestions of Shelley and 
Southey, they entered the Lake District to take 
the finest drive in the kingdom.” Buttermere 
Lake, Borrowdale, Howiston Hawse, and back 
again to lovely Keswick. An enthusiastic three they 
were who occupied the front seats of the coach, and 
whose spontaneous admiration of the beautiful dis- 
trict brought an appreciative smile to the face of the 
driver. ♦ 

Dear, dear,” exclaimed Gabriella, “ I am 
getting back my Italian sensations and am realizing 
again the paucity of adjectives in the English lan- 
guage. Help me out, somebody. Aren’t those 
beeches beautiful? And look at the color on that 
dear little mountain, isn’t it enough to drive one wild ? 
It is all such a perfect miniature section, the moun- 
tains and lakes and all are so little and yet so per- 
fect. You feel such a sense of nearness while they 
are entirely satisfying. Now at home, if we want 
to climb a mountain, we can’t go out the back door 
after breakfast and get home in time for dinner ; 
and if we want to cross one of our lakes we must 
wait for a steamboat. Here you simply drag out 
your row-boat from under the bushes and pull across, 
run up your mountain and turn round and come 
back again by supper time; it is so perfectly dear 
and friendly and satisfactory.” 

I simply adore the names they have for things 
about here,” declared Sidney. “ It is so refreshing 


292 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


to get hold of tarns and gills, forces and becks for 
the watery places, and combes and hows, nabs and 
holmes for the dry ones. We must learn them all, 
Gabriella. Now what would that be over there? ’’ 
she asked the driver. 

ThaFs Castle Crag, miss. Hit’s between ’Igh 
Fell and Great ’Ow.” 

Lovely ! ” exclaimed Sidney. “ Do you hear 
that. Gem?” 

“Yes, but I am trying to remember what it is 
that W ordsworth says about ‘ Castrigg’s naked 
steep.’ We must read up W ordsworth, girls, when 
we get to Grasmere.” 

“If I am disappointed in Grasmere it will be a 
dreadful shock,” said Gabriella. “The very name 
enchants me, and I have pictured just what it must 
be like. Since I have seen Keswick I can better 
believe that I shall find the realization of my dreams 
at Grasmere.” 

She was not disappointed, for when the coach 
swept by the old Swan inn and down the road to the 
middle of the little village resting quietly upon the 
margin of its lovely lake encircled by mountains 
they all looked around in delight. “ It is, it is all 
I have dreamed,” cried Gabriella. “ Oh, Gem, 
it is as perfect as if it had been made to order. No 
inn, please. Miss Gem, but simple lodgings in some 
cottage; then we can enjoy every minute in the 
jewel of a place. I take off my hat to Wordsworth. 


SKIRLING PIPES 


293 


Anyone with the good taste to select such a spot to 
live in I have the utmost respect for.^’ 

They watched the coaches rattle off down the road 
and on to Ambleside, and then they turned their 
attention to the search for lodgings. It was so late 
in the season that these were not difficult to obtain, 
though it was not easy to find the ideal place, but 
at last it was discovered in a cottage which gave them 
a garden on one side and green fields on the other; 
the highroad and the lake seen through the trees 
were in front of them, and behind them, hurrying 
past the garden wall, was the river Rothay. Every- 
thing about the house was spotlessly clean, the 
landlady was the softest- voiced, gentlest of creatures, 
and they settled down for their two weeks’ stay with 
contented hearts. 

Are you perfectly satisfied, Gabriella?” asked 
Miss Cavendish. 

Satisfied? ” echoed the girl, I am more than 
that; I am happy.” 

‘‘ And you would not rather be with Miss Bailey ? ” 
A slight shadow crossed Gabriella’s face, but she 
answered, ‘‘ No, this is Heartsease Cottage, Gem.” 


CHAPTER XX 


THE OTHEE GENTLEMAN 

Miss Cavendish sat in a large easy chair pour- 
ing over a volume of Wordsworth. Her fine profile 
was outlined against the green of growing plants in 
the window and the long lines of her graceful figure 
were distinctly picturesque in the pose she had taken. 
Gabriella was at the table, her pen flying across 
her sheet of writing paper. It was raining dismally, 
but Sidney had gone to the post-office. Presently 
a gentle voice at the open door said : ‘‘I beg your 
pardon, miss, but the other gentleman thought he 
would like a suet pudding to-day. Would you ladies 
care to ’ave one, too? ” 

‘‘ It sounds rather comfortable on this wet cool 
day,’^ said Gabriella in response to Miss Cavendish’s 
questioning look. “ If the ‘ other gentleman ’ thinks 
it is the thing, why shouldn’t we have it? ” 

Very well, we’ll have suet pudding, Mrs. Graves,” 
said Miss Cavendish returning to her book. 

‘‘ The other gentleman ” was a mystery. He was 
the only other lodger in the house, and had been seen 
but on two occasions : once Gabriella had encountered 
him upon the stairs; once Sidney had met him as 

294 


THE OTHER GENTLEMAN 


295 


he was coming in the front door. Miss Cavendish 
had never seen him and neither of the three knew 
his name. Mrs. Graves never referred to him except 
as “ the other gentleman/’ to the great amusement 
of the girls. That he was a scholarly person en- 
grossed in his books was about the only thing they 
had learned about him. He always managed to 
leave the house after his fellow lodgers had gone 
out, and came in before they did, not a very difficult 
thing to do since they spent most of their time out 
of doors, for Grasmere afforded an endless variety 
of delightful walks, rendered the more interesting 
by their association with the Wordsworths. 

“Isn’t she a dear?” said Gabriella when Mrs. 
Graves had softly closed the door. “ I’d like to take 
’er ’ome with me. Isn’t it perfectly lovely the way 
she always says ‘ the other gentleman? ’ ” 

“ I am quite curious to see that individual,” 
remarked Miss Cavendish. “ What does he look 
like, Gabriella? ” 

“ Oh, he’s rather nondescript, neither old nor 
young ; not very tall, not very short ; wears glasses, 
stoops a little; has a good, kind face I think, but 
hasn’t a particle of curiosity, as I well realize. He 
wears a disreputable old rain-streaked overcoat and 
a cap. To my mind he looks as if he needed a wife.” 

Miss Cavendish laughed. “ I fancy he is some 
old Oxford professor, who has no thought above 
dry-as-dust books and parchments.” 


296 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


He looks it” returned Gabriella. “ I’m afraid 
it is going to be too wet for that climb up Helm 
Crag, although the clouds are breaking a little over 
Silver How, but, even if it does clear, it will be 
slippy for climbing.” 

“ Perhaps it will not be too wet for Loughrigg 
Terrace, or at all events for Rydal Water by the 
lower road.” 

Radical Reform you mean. I do like Dr. 
Arnold’s facetious names for the three roads. Yes, 
we might go to Rydal even in the rain. Rydal Water 
is lovely under any circumstances; it is even just 
a little bit lovelier than Grasmere, though I ac- 
knowledge it grudgingly.” 

By noon the sun was shining. ‘‘ In the woodsy 
roads we may find it damp,” said Miss Cavendish, 
“ though I, for one, shall not be afraid to try the 
Borrowdale road, turning off before you come to 
the place where we climb Helm Crag. There is a 
little white farmhouse somewhere along there where 
we may be able to get tea.” 

They took their way through the pretty green 
village with its scattered houses surrounded by 
gardens, past the old church and up the Easedale 
road over which “ the lion and the lamb ” and “ the 
ancient woman beside her rifted cell ” keep watch 
from the heights of Helm Crag. Verdant pastures 
stretched to their right, and through these the 
babbling little Easedale beck chattered ‘‘ over stony 


THE OTHER GENTLEMAN 297 


ways in little sharps and trebles,’’ while beyond 
the hills arose in purple and orange splendor, for 
the bracken had already turned to a gorgeous yellow 
and showed in patches upon the mountain side. 
Once in a while, from some rocky platform above 
them, the plaintive bleat of a mountain sheep came 
to their ears. The wild birds flew around the lonely 
heights with strange cries. The rain had washed 
everything clean, but the excellent road showed little 
effect of the showers except that there was no 
dust. 

Miss Cavendish carried a small red book which 
she had bought the day before. Once in a while she 
referred to it, and when they sat down upon one of 
the benches provided for the wayfarer, she would 
read snatches aloud. 

Their walk finally brought them to the white 
cottage set in a garden where masses of late blossoms 
showed freshly fair after the rain. They were 
ushered into a low raftered room which delighted 
Gabriella’s artistic soul, and here they were served 
fragrant tea with thick cream, thin slices of bread 
and butter, home-made jam and plum cake. 

‘‘Isn’t it all perfectly delicious?” exclaimed 
Gabriella. “ I’d like to transport the whole place 
to America; those lovely old beams darkened by 
time, this quaint table, that row of shining brass 
candlesticks and the little maid herself. Fancy 
making such a discovery at home. Who could drop 


298 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


into a casual farmhouse and be served all this so 
daintily, so exquisitely, and pay only sixpence for 
it? 

Gabriella, it is well that you are soon going 
home or you would become an Anglomaniac,” 
declared Miss Cavendish. 

I am afraid I should.” 

Yes, I notice that you vaunt your country less 
than you did in Paris,” said Sidney, “though seri- 
ously, this tea is remarkably good with the fresh 
cream.” 

“ So is the bread and butter.” 

“ So is the plum cake, and also, so are our appe- 
tites,” this last from Gabriella who helped herself 
to a second slice of cake. 

They left the low-ceiled cottage, refreshed, and 
passed out between rows of scarlet and gold blossoms, 
then took the road again. Half way home they saw 
someone coming toward them, the visor of his cap 
pulled down over his eyes, and his attention riveted 
on the book he was striving to read as he stumbled 
along. “ It’s ‘ the other gentleman,’ ” whispered 
Gabriella, nudging Miss Cavendish. The man passed 
on, but as Gabriella turned to speak to her com- 
panion she saw that she was deadly pale, and that 
she had dropped down upon a rock beside the way. 
“ Gem dear, are you ill? Have you sprained your 
ankle? What is the matter?” asked the girl in 
alarm. 


THE OTHER GENTLEMAN 299 


“ It is John Price, answered Miss Cavendish 
faintly. 

Gabriella looked back to where Sidney was gather- 
ing a few late wild flowers. The man’s figure was 
disappearing around a bend in the road. Gabriella 
sat down by her friend’s side and put her arm 
around her. Oh, Gem,” she whispered, “ did it 
mean anything to you after all these years? ” 

It was a surprise; that was all,” returned Miss 
Cavendish, regaining her composure and rising to 
her feet. She walked on and Gabriella waited for 
Sidney, the two overtaking Miss Cavendish a little 
further ahead. She smiled as she saw them ap- 
proaching. I had a scare, Sidney. Did Gabriella 
tell you that I saw a ghost? ” she said lightly. ‘‘ I 
think now that perhaps I was mistaken. Ten years 
may make a great difference in one’s looks and I 
may have forgotten. It does not seem possible that 
I should meet one whom I once knew so well in this 
quiet little corner of the world. Resemblances are 
sometimes startling and I am convinced that I was 
mistaken. Come, shall we go over Butterlip How 
and across by the Swan inn? It will take us home 
by another way.” 

They continued their walk, crossing Goody Bridge 
and turning aside before they reached the town. 
But when they came again to the highroad they met 
the other gentleman ” a second time face to face. 
This time the book was in his pocket. He looked 


300 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


up. The expression of indifference upon his face 
grew into one of surprise, then to one of pleasure. 
He sprang forward and held out his hand. Isabel 
Cavendish ! Isabel, it can’t be you,” he ex- 
claimed. 

It is I, John,” she answered simply. 

“ And these are? ” he turned to the girls. 

‘‘ My two goddaughters who are travelling with 
me.” She presented them. The girls meekly fell 
behind while the older two walked on. 

“ Isn’t it a coincidence? ” said Gabriella. ‘‘ Do 
you suppose anything will happen, Sid? ” 

What could happen? ” 

“ The same thing that might come about if you 
were not to see your girlhood’s lover for ten years 
and were to meet him just here.” 

‘‘ Dear me.” 

I confess to feeling absurdly jealous. I am in 
a rage,” declared Gabriella. “ Oh, you old blunder- 
ing nose-in-a-book, she is far too good for the likes 
of you. I hope your suet pudding will choke you.” 
She shook her fist at the back of Mr. Price’s weather- 
stained coat. 

“ There’s no getting away from him, you see,” 
said Sidney, “ for he lives just across the hallway 
and can’t stay at home on account of the weather.” 

If he has any sort of consideration for us he will 
move right away.” 

This Mr. Price did not do, but from this time on 


THE OTHER GENTLEMAN 301 


he was no longer the other gentleman ’’ to them, 
for his books were neglected, his old coat was dis- 
dained. He appeared in a bran-new mackintosh on 
rainy days, and on sunny ones in as correct a costume 
as even Gabriella’s fastidious eyes could approve. 
He climbed the hills with them to little Easedale 
tarn where they had tea in a tiny lonely hut. He 
had them for a drive to Ambleside, a sail on Lake 
Windermere. He helped them up hill and followed 
them down dale for the week longer that they re- 
mained under Mrs. Graveses roof, and while the 
girls grew to like him better and better “ the light 
that never was on land or sea ’’ added a new beauty 
to the face of Isabel Cavendish. 

“ And I suppose,” said Gabriella ruefully to her 
godmother, you will be wearing that lace bertha 
before long.” 

‘‘ We must make up for lost time, dearie. He has 
waited for me for ten long years,” returned Miss 
Cavendish quietly. And Gabriella, who was ex- 
periencing some of the pangs of “ hope deferred,” 
threw her arms around her friend and hugged her 
close. 

But as I am never going to marry,” she said, 

all my plans are nipped in the bud. I was going 
to have it that you and mamma and I would live 
together for the rest of our days in some sweet little 
countrylike place which we could make as English 
as possible.” 


302 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


“ It is what we shall do, Rella, and you shall spend 
weeks with me.” 

Not when there is a horrid man who will carry 
you off for dry discussions about things I can’t 
possibly understand. If he were a business man one 
could hope not to see too much of him, but a pro- 
fessor, and of Greek at that. No, Gem, much as I 
love you I cannot feel happy at the prospect.” Then 
seeing that Miss Cavendish looked a trifle hurt she 
called herself a beast and declared that John Price 
was the very nicest man in the world and that she 
had but one objection to him, and that was that he 
had superseded her small self in Miss Cavendish’s 
affections, a statement which Miss Cavendish denied, 
saying that each had a select and distinct place, after 
which Gabriella went to talk with Sidney about their 
bridesmaid frocks. 

Mr. Price would need to take an earlier sailing 
than the others, as his college demanded his presence 
by the first of October, so the three lingered a few 
days longer in the sweet vale of Grasmere to take a 
last cup of tea at the white cottage, to walk once 
more over Loughrigg Terrace, to make one more 
round of Grasmere lake and Rydal Water. Then, 
one October morning, when the mists were rolling 
down from Helm Crag and Silver How, they bade 
adieu to the spot where they had all been very happy, 
and where had come to Isabella Cavendish the 
crowning joy of her journey. 


THE OTHER GENTLEMAN 303 


“ You have had heartache all these years and now 
you are perfectly happy,” said Gabriella wistfully, 
“ but I am putting the ocean between me and my 
hope.” 

“ So I thought I had done, and I have not had 
heartache all these years, dear child. My life has 
been very full, and you, sweetheart, have helped to 
fill it. Will you stay over, Gabriella ? It is not too 
late. Miss Bailey said that if you should change 
your mind at the last moment you had but to let her 
know.” 

But Gabriella shook her head. I couldn’t 
disappoint my mother, and it is too late anyhow.” 

Yet there was a glad look in the eyes of all three 
as they turned their faces toward Liverpool. Soon 
the ocean would no longer roll between those whom 
they had left behind, and who so ardently longed to 
see them. Only Miss Cavendish looked back as one 
who is not saying a long farewell. ‘‘ We shall come 
over again next year,” she murmured, and Gabriella 
knew that the pronoun did not include her. She 
gazed wistfully out the window as lake and mountain 
and green pastures faded from their sight, and the 
lovely lake district gave place to chimneyed factories 
and smoky towns on the way to Liverpool. 

Another day saw them on the deck of a huge ocean 
steamer. They idly watched till the last trunk was 
on board, till the hoarse whistle announced the fact 
that the hour for departure had come, then they 


304 


A JOURNEY OF JOY 


turned away and went to look for steamer letters. 
In consequence of this they were too late to see a 
young man rush up the gangway at the very last 
moment. In one hand he carried a suit case and in 
the other a great bunch of roses. He was barely 
in time ; another minute and the great paddle wheels 
began to turn. They were off. 

Gabriella in her state-room, with a little catch 
at her heart, was reading Miss Bailey’s farewell 
letter. We are looking every day for Mr. Morgan,” 
she wrote. “ He has been to some out-of-the-way 
place in Germany, but is coming back to England, 
and you, too, my dear, will some day come back 
to us, I am sure.” 

There was a tap at the door of the adjoining room 
and presently Gabriella looked up to see Sidney 
holding out a bunch of saffron-colored roses and a 
letter. ‘‘ The steward just brought these,” she said. 

Oh, Rella, they remind me of Italy. Who could 
have sent them? ” 

Gabriella buried her hot face in the cool fragrant 
flowers, and then she took the letter. She gave a 
half startled look at Sidney before she read : “I 
have just learned from my dear old friends that you 
are to sail to-morrow. I have learned other things, 
too, which give me courage to try to reach Liverpool 
in time for your steamer. If I may cross the ocean 
and ask your mother for the dearest girl in the world, 
will you wear one of these roses down to dinner? 


THE OTHER GENTLEMAN 305 


But if my presence will trouble you, and you would 
rather that we should not meet, do not wear the 
rose, and I will leave the steamer at Queenstown.” 

The notes of the bugle call for dinner sounded 
along the corridor. Gabriella drew from the roses 
in her lap one perfect bud, which she pinned to her 
gown. Then she turned and held out a hand to 
each of her two comrades. “ Come,” she said. 

He is here, and I, too, shall come back some day.” 




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